Ada vs Daphne
Ada and Daphnecompared 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 Daphne #150 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Daphne #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Daphne #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Daphne over time
Ada and Daphne appear together in 2 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Daphne 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Ada moved ahead of Daphne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #522 and #522 the year before became #137 and #873.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Daphne changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #40 and #150.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Daphne #150 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Daphne in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Daphne #150 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Daphne #150.
Republic of Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Daphne in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Daphne #234 in 1964.
The order changed in 2017: Ada moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #522 and #522; by 2017 that had become #137 and #873.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Daphne #413.
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 | Daphne |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (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); Daphne does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Daphne both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Daphne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Daphne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — 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: #150 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls