Abigail vs Ava
Abigail and Ava compared 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 2023, Abigail was ranked #57 and Ava #8 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #171 and Ava #11 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Ava #11 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #55 and Ava #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Ava #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Ava #32 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #273 and Ava #143 among girls in Norway.
Abigail and Ava over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Abigail and Ava over time
Abigail and Ava appear together in 6 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Abigail in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Abigail reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Ava 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 2008, Ava moved ahead of Abigail in England and Wales · Girls — #24 and #38 the year before became #29 and #21.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Ava changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1978 and 2025, ending at #115 and #26.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Abigail and Ava averaged 28.7 places apart, ending at #55 and #18.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Ava were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #171 and #11.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #246 in 2022, Ava #104 in 2020.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1978–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ava in 31.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Ava #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1998: Ava moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #150 and #213; by 1998 that had become #107 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Ava #26.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ava in 18.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Ava #3 in 2018.
The order changed in 2008: Ava moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #24 and #38; by 2008 that had become #29 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #171, Ava #11.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1998–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ava in 17.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Ava #9 in 2016.
The order changed in 2008: Ava moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #34 and #46; by 2008 that had become #31 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Ava #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ava in 23.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #24 in 2010, Ava #3 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #55, Ava #18.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1999–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ava in 20.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Ava #104 in 2020.
The order changed in 2003: Ava moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #516 and #575; by 2003 that had become #522 and #411.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #273, Ava #143.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 2003–2023
Abigail held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Ava in 18.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #30 in 2010, Ava #5 in 2017.
The order changed in 2006: Ava moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #45 and #51; by 2006 that had become #46 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Abigail #57, Ava #8.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Abigail
Pairs where Abigail shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #171.
Shannon · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #171.
Danielle · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jade vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #747 and #171.
Jade · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Abigail
In 1997 they stood at #66 and #72 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #48.
Fiona · Abigail · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Ava
Pairs where Ava shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Ava
Ella and Ava changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1981 and 2025, ending at #17 and #26.
Ella · Ava · 43 shared years, 1981–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ava vs Zara
Ava and Zara both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Zara · 45 shared years, 1978–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Daisy
Ava and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Daisy · 36 shared years, 1985–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Layla
Ava and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Layla · 35 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
- Katie vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Katie #1 in 2004, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Katie · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Ava |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈeɪvə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #11 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ava has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ava.
- A meaning is recorded for Ava; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Ava
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls