Abigail vs Nora
Abigail and Noracompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #273 and Nora #3 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Nora #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #55 and Nora #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Nora #72 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Nora #76 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Nora #86 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Nora over time
Abigail and Nora appear together in 4 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nora in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2022, Nora moved ahead of Abigail in England and Wales · Girls — #105 and #123 the year before became #128 and #119.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Abigail rose about as far as Nora fell — from #303 and #38 in 1969 to #115 and #76 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Nora were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 30 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #273 and #3.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Nora in 25.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Nora #38 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Nora #76.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1983–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nora in 30.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Nora #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #273, Nora #3.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nora in 3.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Nora #86 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Nora moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #105 and #123; by 2022 that had become #128 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Nora #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Nora in 3.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #31 in 2008, Nora #44 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Nora moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #73 and #98; by 2023 that had become #115 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Nora #44.
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 | Abigail | Nora |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of the names Honora (linked to Latin 'honor') or Eleanor — not an independently rooted name; Behind the Name does not specify which is the 'true' source for any given historical bearer. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɔrə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Norway · Girls #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nora has a recorded origin (English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Nora.
- A meaning is recorded for Nora; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Nora
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 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: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls