Ada vs Maeve
Ada and Maevecompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ada was ranked #78 and Maeve #25 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Maeve #25 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Maeve #26 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Maeve #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Maeve #57 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and Maeve over time
Ada and Maeve appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maeve 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.
Ada reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Maeve 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 Maeve in Northern Ireland · Girls — #190 and #154 the year before became #92 and #208.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Maeve were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #45 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Maeve #26 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Maeve in 23.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Maeve #60 in 2025.
The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #137 and #133; by 2018 that had become #70 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Maeve #60.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Maeve in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Maeve #26 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Maeve #26.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maeve in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Maeve #57 in 2024.
The order changed in 2018: Ada moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #190 and #154; by 2018 that had become #92 and #208.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Maeve #57.
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 | Maeve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Maeve does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Maeve both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Maeve 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
Maeve
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #80 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 recorded2020–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2020–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls