Ada vs Monica
Ada and Monica compared 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 2017, Ada was ranked #24 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ada was ranked #34 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #40 and Monica #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
Ada and Monica over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ada and Monica over time
Ada and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Monica 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.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 Monica changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2017, ending at #24 and #542.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Monica fell — from #256 and #315 in 1946 to #24 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Monica were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #1229.
List by list
Norway · Girls62 shared years, 1946–2017
Ada held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Monica in 39.
Highest recorded here: Ada #24 in 2017, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ada #24, Monica #542.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Monica in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Ada moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #919 and #666; by 2008 that had become #699 and #722.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #40, Monica #1229.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1964–2023
Ada held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Monica in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Monica #70 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 #635.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ada #34, Monica #727.
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.
- Kristin vs Ada
Over 74 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #130 and #229 in 1945 to #251 and #18 in 2025.
Kristin · Ada · 74 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ada vs Solveig
Over 74 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #229 and #14 in 1945 to #18 and #28 in 2025.
Ada · Solveig · 74 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Christine vs Ada
Over 71 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Christine fell — from #253 and #229 in 1945 to #498 and #18 in 2025.
Christine · Ada · 71 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ada vs Christina
Over 70 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Christina fell — from #256 and #307 in 1946 to #18 and #497 in 2025.
Ada · Christina · 70 shared years, 1946–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Monica
Pairs where Monica shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Monica
In 1964 they stood at #68 and #70 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2023 they were #316 and #727.
Jennifer · Monica · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Claire
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #75 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #339.
Monica · Claire · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Monica
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Monica fell — from #46 and #315 in 1946 to #9 and #542 in 2017.
Anna · Monica · 69 shared years, 1946–2017 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.
- Nora vs Heidi
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Nora rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #219 and #188 in 1945 to #3 and #437 in 2025.
Nora · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Morten fell — from #141 and #107 in 1945 to #16 and #214 in 2025.
Henrik · Morten · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Nils fell — from #141 and #26 in 1945 to #16 and #61 in 2025.
Henrik · Nils · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Henrik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #141 in 1945 to #174 and #16 in 2025.
Peter · Henrik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ada | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Germanic | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.də/ | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1229 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Ada is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Monica is recorded with a Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) origin.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- Ada's recorded meaning differs from Monica's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Ada a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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 #40 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls