Ada vs May
Ada and Maycompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #18 and May #481 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and May #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and May #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ada and May over time
Ada and May appear together in 3 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. May held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ada in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
May 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 1996, Ada moved ahead of May in Norway · Girls — #195 and #177 the year before became #199 and #242.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and May changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1967 and 2025, ending at #45 and #718.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ada rose about as far as May fell — from #315 and #315 in 1967 to #45 and #718 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and May were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 73 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #481.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ada #34 in 2023, May #262 in 2023.
List by list
Norway · Girls73 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 29 of those years, May in 44.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, May #24 in 1956.
The order changed in 1996: Ada moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #195 and #177; by 1996 that had become #199 and #242.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, May #481.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 14 of those years, May in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, May #325 in 2007.
The order changed in 2011: Ada moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #499 and #352; by 2011 that had become #386 and #414.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, May #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1967–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 20 of those years, May in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, May #262 in 2023.
The order changed in 2012: Ada moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #437 and #359; by 2012 that had become #371 and #677.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, May #718.
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 | May |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); May does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; May doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 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: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls