Ada vs Harper
Ada and Harpercompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ada was ranked #78 and Harper #5 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Harper #21 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #40 and Harper #23 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Harper #54 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Harper #84 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2021, Ada was ranked #4789 and Harper #939 among boys in England and Wales.
Ada and Harper over time
Ada and Harper appear together in 3 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Harper held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ada 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.
Harper reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Ada in 1. 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 2022, Ada moved ahead of Harper in Northern Ireland · Girls — #55 and #38 the year before became #37 and #44.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Harper #22 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Harper in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Harper #22 in 2023.
The order changed in 2012: Harper moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #386 and #858; by 2012 that had become #384 and #284.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #40, Harper #23.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Harper in 6.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Harper #53 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Harper #54.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Harper in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Harper #38 in 2021.
The order changed in 2022: Ada moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #55 and #38; by 2022 that had become #37 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Harper #84.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Ada
Pairs where Ada shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristin vs Ada
Over 74 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #130 and #229 in 1945 to #251 and #18 in 2025.
Kristin · Ada · 74 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ada vs Solveig
Over 74 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #229 and #14 in 1945 to #18 and #28 in 2025.
Ada · Solveig · 74 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Christine vs Ada
Over 71 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Christine fell — from #253 and #229 in 1945 to #498 and #18 in 2025.
Christine · Ada · 71 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ada vs Christina
Over 70 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Christina fell — from #256 and #307 in 1946 to #18 and #497 in 2025.
Ada · Christina · 70 shared years, 1946–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Harper
Pairs where Harper shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harper vs Aurora
Harper and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Aurora · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Daisy
Harper and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Daisy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Poppy
Harper and Poppy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Poppy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ada | Harper |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. |
| Origin | Germanic | English (occupational surname) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.də/ | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Harper is recorded with a English (occupational surname) origin.
- Ada and Harper both have 2 syllables.
- Ada's recorded meaning differs from Harper's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #40 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls