Ada vs Maddie
Ada and Maddiecompared 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 Maddie #374 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Maddie #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Maddie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Maddie #150 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Maddie over time
Ada and Maddie appear together in 3 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maddie 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.
Maddie 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 2016, Ada moved ahead of Maddie in Northern Ireland · Girls — #358 and #248 the year before became #137 and #211.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ada #35 in 2023, Maddie #127 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Maddie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Maddie #255 in 2005.
The order changed in 2013: Ada moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #384 and #273; by 2013 that had become #280 and #289.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Maddie #374.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2008–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Maddie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Maddie #232 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Maddie #294.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Maddie in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Maddie #127 in 2022.
The order changed in 2016: Ada moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #358 and #248; by 2016 that had become #137 and #211.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Maddie #150.
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 | Maddie |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Germanic); Maddie does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Maddie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Maddie 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
Maddie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #643 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2024
Highest recorded position: #127 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2002–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls