Ada vs Dorothy
Ada and Dorothycompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ada was ranked #35 and Dorothy #302 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Dorothy #193 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Dorothy #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Dorothy over time
Ada and Dorothy appear together in 2 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dorothy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dorothy 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Dorothy #175 in 2020.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Dorothy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Dorothy #175 in 2020.
The order changed in 2008: Ada moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #919 and #919; by 2008 that had become #699 and #859.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Dorothy #193.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Dorothy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Dorothy #95 in 1964.
The order changed in 2008: Ada moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #689 and #689; by 2008 that had become #430 and #750.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Dorothy #544.
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 | Dorothy |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| 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); Dorothy does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Dorothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Dorothy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Dorothy
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #75 among girls in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls