Ada vs Lillian
Ada and Lilliancompared 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 Lillian #295 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Ada was ranked #37 and Lillian #418 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Lillian #309 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Lillian #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Lillian #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Lillian over time
Ada and Lillian appear together in 3 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Lillian held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ada in 0.
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.
Lillian 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 Lillian in Norway · Girls — #231 and #195 the year before became #195 and #279.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Lillian changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #45 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Lillian were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #295.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Lillian in 42.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Lillian #40 in 1945.
The order changed in 1995: Ada moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #231 and #195; by 1995 that had become #195 and #279.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Lillian #295.
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Lillian in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Lillian #236 in 2016.
The order changed in 2015: Ada moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #242 and #242; by 2015 that had become #180 and #291.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Lillian #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lillian in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Lillian #274 in 2017.
The order changed in 2013: Ada moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #384 and #349; by 2013 that had become #280 and #339.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Lillian #309.
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 | Lillian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Norway · Girls #295 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Lillian does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Lillian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Lillian 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
Lillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #40 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: #40 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #295 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls