Ada vs Jenny
Ada and Jennycompared 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 Jenny #29 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Jenny #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Jenny #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Ada was ranked #66 and Jenny #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Jenny over time
Ada and Jenny appear together in 3 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jenny 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.
Jenny 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 2018, Ada moved ahead of Jenny in Norway · Girls — #24 and #21 the year before became #7 and #13.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Jenny fell — from #428 and #374 in 1974 to #45 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Jenny were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #29.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jenny in 66.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Jenny #13 in 2015.
The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #24 and #21; by 2018 that had become #7 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Jenny #29.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jenny in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Jenny #256 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Ada moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #699 and #595; by 2009 that had become #547 and #806.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Jenny #1491.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1974–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jenny in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Jenny #217 in 2001.
The order changed in 2010: Ada moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #410 and #331; by 2010 that had become #444 and #475.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Jenny #885.
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 | Jenny |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Norway · Girls #29 (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); Jenny does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Jenny both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Jenny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Jenny
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #190 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: #13 among girls in Norway, in 2015 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #29 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls