Ada vs Jess
Ada and Jesscompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Jess #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Jess #541 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Jess #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Jess #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2012, Ada was ranked #4805 and Jess #3416 among boys in England and Wales.
Ada and Jess over time
Ada and Jess appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jess in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jess reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jess in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Jess #769 in 2005.
The order changed in 2008: Ada moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #919 and #866; by 2008 that had become #699 and #1034.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Jess #5891.
Republic of Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2007–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jess in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Jess #355 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Jess #544.
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 | Jess |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (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); Jess does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Jess.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Jess doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Jess
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #355 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 1990–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls