Namewise

Ada vs Maddison

Ada and Maddisoncompared 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 Maddison #121 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Maddison #130 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Maddison #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Maddison #169 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Ada was ranked #78 and Maddison #81 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2010, Ada was ranked #3865 and Maddison #4678 among boys in England and Wales.

Ada and Maddison over time

Ada and Maddison appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maddison 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.

Maddison 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.

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 Maddison in England and Wales · Girls — #114 and #112 the year before became #65 and #118.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ada and Maddison changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2002 and 2025, ending at #45 and #226.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ada #34 in 2023, Maddison #183 in 2023.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maddison in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Maddison #63 in 2005.

    The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #114 and #112; by 2018 that had become #65 and #118.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Maddison #121.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 20022025

    Ada held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maddison in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Maddison #183 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Maddison #226.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 20132024

    Ada held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Maddison in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Maddison #141 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #190 and #154; by 2018 that had become #92 and #218.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Maddison #169.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ada, Maddison
FieldAdaMaddison
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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
OriginGermanicNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪ.də/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #18 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #226 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Maddison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Maddison.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ada; Maddison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Ada

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 2019 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Maddison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1992

    First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1992–2020

    Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1998 (recorded 1992–2020).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls