Ada vs Madeline
Ada and Madelinecompared 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 Madeline #305 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Madeline #333 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Madeline #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Madeline #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Madeline over time
Ada and Madeline appear together in 2 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Madeline 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Madeline were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 30 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #45 and #544.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Madeline in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Madeline #140 in 1964.
The order changed in 2006: Ada moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #689 and #587; by 2006 that had become #550 and #764.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Madeline #544.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Madeline in 17.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Madeline #110 in 2003.
The order changed in 2013: Ada moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #384 and #332; by 2013 that had become #280 and #373.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Madeline #305.
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 | Madeline |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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, NZ |
| 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 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Madeline does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Madeline.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Madeline 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
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
Madeline
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #140 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2019
Highest recorded position: #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1997 (recorded 1992–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls