Ada vs Bethany
Ada and Bethanycompared 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 Bethany #539 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Bethany #384 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Bethany #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Bethany #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Bethany over time
Ada and Bethany appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Bethany 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.
Bethany 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 2017, Ada moved ahead of Bethany in England and Wales · Girls — #164 and #103 the year before became #114 and #122.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Bethany fell — from #606 and #225 in 2001 to #45 and #544 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Bethany in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Bethany #11 in 1999.
The order changed in 2017: Ada moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #164 and #103; by 2017 that had become #114 and #122.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Bethany #539.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 2001–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Bethany in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Bethany #179 in 2003.
The order changed in 2014: Ada moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #286 and #273; by 2014 that had become #242 and #427.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Bethany #544.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Bethany in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Bethany #92 in 2016.
The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #190 and #130; by 2018 that had become #92 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Bethany #253.
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 | Bethany |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Bethany does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Bethany.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Bethany doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Bethany
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — 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: #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls