Ada vs Mercy
Ada and Mercycompared 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 Mercy #980 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Ada was ranked #48 and Mercy #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Mercy over time
Ada and Mercy appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mercy in 0.
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.
Mercy 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 Mercy changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #40 and #980.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Mercy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Mercy #806 in 2009.
The order changed in 2005: Ada moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #1617 and #1459; by 2005 that had become #951 and #1500.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Mercy #980.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2001–2022
Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Mercy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ada #48 in 2022, Mercy #333 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Ada moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #550 and #502; by 2007 that had become #373 and #549.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ada #48, Mercy #747.
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 | Mercy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #980 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Mercy does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Mercy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Mercy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
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
Mercy
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1522 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
Highest recorded2001–2022
Highest recorded position: #333 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 2001–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #980 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls