Ada vs Greta
Ada and Gretacompared 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 Greta #373 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Greta #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Greta #790 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #50 and Greta #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Greta over time
Ada and Greta appear together in 3 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Greta 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.
Greta 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 1995, Ada moved ahead of Greta in Norway · Girls — #231 and #228 the year before became #195 and #275.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Greta changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #18 and #373.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Greta were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #373.
List by list
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Greta in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ada #10 in 2020, Greta #73 in 1946.
The order changed in 1995: Ada moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #231 and #228; by 1995 that had become #195 and #275.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Greta #373.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Greta in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Greta #516 in 2016.
The order changed in 2009: Ada moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #699 and #699; by 2009 that had become #547 and #679.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Greta #1302.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1974–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Greta in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ada #37 in 2020, Greta #378 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #50, Greta #736.
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 | Greta |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #373 (2025) |
| 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); Greta does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Greta both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Greta 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
Greta
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #79 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: #73 among girls in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #373 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls