Namewise

Ada vs Mary-Kate

Ada and Mary-Katecompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Ada was ranked #37 and Mary-Kate #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Mary-Kate #4843 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Mary-Kate #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Ada and Mary-Kate over time

Ada and Mary-Kate appear together in 2 published lists, across 49 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mary-Kate in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Mary-Kate 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ada and Mary-Kate changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #40 and #4843.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 21 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Mary-Kate fell — from #511 and #476 in 2004 to #45 and #885 in 2025.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 19962024

    Ada held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Mary-Kate in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Mary-Kate #1383 in 2003.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Mary-Kate #4843.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 20042025

    Ada held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Mary-Kate in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Mary-Kate #396 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2006: Ada moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #689 and #689; by 2006 that had become #550 and #764.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Mary-Kate #885.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Ada

Pairs where Ada shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ada, Mary-Kate
FieldAdaMary-Kate
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
Syllables24
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #18 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Mary-Kate does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Mary-Kate.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ada; Mary-Kate doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

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 #40 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Mary-Kate

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #3126 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

  2. Highest recorded2002–2022

    Highest recorded position: #238 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 2002–2022).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls