Ada vs Carys
Ada and Caryscompared 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 Carys #855 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Carys #431 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Ada was ranked #78 and Carys #333 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Ada was ranked #137 and Carys #651 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Carys over time
Ada and Carys appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Carys reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Carys in 17.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Carys #130 in 2004.
The order changed in 2013: Ada moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #384 and #299; by 2013 that had become #280 and #328.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Carys #855.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2003–2017
Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Carys in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ada #137 in 2017, Carys #511 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ada #137, Carys #651.
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 | Carys |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #431 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Carys does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Carys both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Carys 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
Carys
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #199 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #130 among girls in England and Wales, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #855 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls