Ada vs Alyssa
Ada and Alyssacompared 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, Ada was ranked #40 and Alyssa #285 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Alyssa #171 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Alyssa #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Alyssa #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Alyssa over time
Ada and Alyssa appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Alyssa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ada 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.
Alyssa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
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 2015, Ada moved ahead of Alyssa in England and Wales · Girls — #233 and #188 the year before became #187 and #190.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Alyssa in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Alyssa #144 in 2004.
The order changed in 2015: Ada moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #233 and #188; by 2015 that had become #187 and #190.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Alyssa #285.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 2001–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Alyssa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Alyssa #172 in 2015.
The order changed in 2016: Ada moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #180 and #172; by 2016 that had become #166 and #181.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Alyssa #325.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Alyssa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Alyssa #137 in 2016.
The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #190 and #180; by 2018 that had become #92 and #238.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Alyssa #337.
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 | Ada | Alyssa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.də/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Alyssa does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Alyssa.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Alyssa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Alyssa
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2019
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls