Ada vs Elsa
Ada and Elsacompared 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 Elsa #134 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Elsa #558 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Elsa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Elsa #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Ada was ranked #78 and Elsa #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Elsa over time
Ada and Elsa appear together in 3 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elsa in 1.
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.
Elsa 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 2015, Ada moved ahead of Elsa in England and Wales · Girls — #233 and #104 the year before became #187 and #262.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Elsa changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1974 and 2025, ending at #45 and #608.
- Mirrored each other
Over 71 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Elsa fell — from #229 and #55 in 1945 to #18 and #134 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Elsa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 71 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #134.
List by list
Norway · Girls71 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Elsa in 32.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Elsa #55 in 1945.
The order changed in 1985: Ada moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #535 and #431; by 1985 that had become #318 and #417.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Elsa #134.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Elsa in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Elsa #104 in 2014.
The order changed in 2015: Ada moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #233 and #104; by 2015 that had become #187 and #262.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Elsa #558.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1974–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Elsa in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Elsa #158 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Elsa #608.
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 | Elsa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Norway · Girls #134 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Elsa does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Elsa both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Elsa 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
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
Elsa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #55 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: #55 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #134 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls