Pauline vs Teresa
Pauline and Teresacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Pauline was ranked #86 and Teresa #60 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1966, Pauline was ranked #86 and Teresa #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Pauline was ranked #896 and Teresa #280 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Pauline was ranked #438 and Teresa #571 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Pauline was ranked #4201 and Teresa #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Pauline and Teresa over time
Pauline and Teresa appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Teresa held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pauline in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Teresa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Pauline in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Teresa moved ahead of Pauline in New Zealand · Girls — #71 and #76 the year before became #87 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Pauline and Teresa changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #896 and #280.
- Longest-running competitions
Pauline and Teresa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #896 and #280.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Pauline #1076 in 1998, Teresa #526 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #12 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #280.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018
Pauline held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Teresa in 38.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #12 in 1964, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order changed in 1981: Teresa moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #65 and #78; by 1981 that had become #98 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Pauline #896, Teresa #280.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Pauline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Teresa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #1076 in 1998, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Pauline #4201, Teresa #1362.
Norway · Girls18 shared years, 1946–2016
Pauline held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Teresa in 12.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #292 in 2000, Teresa #242 in 1958.
The order changed in 2000: Pauline moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #565 and #424; by 2000 that had become #292 and #573.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Pauline #438, Teresa #571.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1957–1971
Pauline held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Teresa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #33 in 1957, Teresa #56 in 1970.
The order changed in 1969: Teresa moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #71 and #76; by 1969 that had become #87 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Pauline #86, Teresa #60.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Pauline | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Pauline and Teresa both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls