Ada vs Irene
Ada and Irenecompared 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 Irene #507 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Irene #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Irene #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Irene over time
Ada and Irene appear together in 3 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Irene in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Irene 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 1997, Ada moved ahead of Irene in Norway · Girls — #199 and #182 the year before became #171 and #215.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Irene changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #40 and #952.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Irene were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 71 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #507.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Irene #952 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Girls71 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Irene in 44.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Irene #34 in 1965.
The order changed in 1997: Ada moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #199 and #182; by 1997 that had become #171 and #215.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Irene #507.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Irene in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Irene #952 in 2024.
The order changed in 2005: Ada moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #1617 and #1459; by 2005 that had become #951 and #1082.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Irene #952.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Irene in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Irene #85 in 1964.
The order changed in 2006: Ada moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #689 and #461; by 2006 that had become #550 and #764.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Irene #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 | Irene |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| 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 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Irene does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Irene.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Irene doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO, 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
Irene
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #60 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: #34 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #507 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls