Abbigail vs Ada
Abbigail and Adacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abbigail was ranked #5891 and Ada #40 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Abbigail was ranked #747 and Ada #286 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Abbigail and Ada over time
Abbigail and Ada appear together in 2 published lists, across 36 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Abbigail in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Abbigail reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ada in none. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Abbigail held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ada in 17.
Highest recorded here: Abbigail #527 in 1997, Ada #36 in 2022.
The order changed in 2006: Ada moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #851 and #951; by 2006 that had become #1243 and #976.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abbigail #5891, Ada #40.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2001–2013
Abbigail held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ada in 7.
Highest recorded here: Abbigail #465 in 2011, Ada #286 in 2013.
The order changed in 2006: Ada moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #476 and #511; by 2006 that had become #764 and #550.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Abbigail #747, Ada #286.
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 | Abbigail | Ada |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Germanic names beginning with 'adal' meaning 'noble', such as Adelaide or Adelina. Notably borne by Ada Lovelace, who assisted Charles Babbage with early computer development. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈeɪ.də/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Abbigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abbigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ada.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Abbigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Abbigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #533 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2013
Highest recorded position: #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1999–2013).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Ada
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #229 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 2019 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls