Namewise

Ada vs Amal

Ada and Amalcompared 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, Ada was ranked #18 and Amal #367 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Amal #208 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Amal #215 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Amal #304 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2021, Ada was ranked #55 and Amal #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2011, Ada was ranked #3830 and Amal #3300 among boys in England and Wales.

Ada and Amal over time

Ada and Amal appear together in 2 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Amal in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ada and Amal changed places 10 times in Norway · Girls between 1962 and 2025, ending at #18 and #367.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ada and Amal were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 56 years, from 1962 to 2025, ending at #18 and #367.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Amal #208 in 2024.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls56 shared years, 19622025

    Ada held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Amal in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Amal #245 in 1972.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Amal #367.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ada held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Amal in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Amal #208 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2008: Ada moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #919 and #774; by 2008 that had become #699 and #899.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Amal #208.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ada, Amal
FieldAdaAmal
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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
OriginGermanicNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪ.də/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #18 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #304 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Amal does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ada and Amal both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ada; Amal doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Ada

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 2019 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Amal

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1962

    First recorded at #434 among girls in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #367 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls