Ada vs Nora
Ada and Noracompared 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 Nora #3 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Nora #86 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Nora #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Nora #72 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Nora #76 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Nora over time
Ada and Nora appear together in 4 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2017, Ada moved ahead of Nora in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #166 and #153 the year before became #137 and #142.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Nora changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2013 and 2024, ending at #47 and #44.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Nora were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #18 and #3.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Nora #86 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Nora in 72.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Nora #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Nora #3.
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nora in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Nora #30 in 1964.
The order changed in 2017: Ada moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #166 and #153; by 2017 that had become #137 and #142.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Nora #76.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Nora in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Nora #86 in 2024.
The order changed in 2007: Ada moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #976 and #890; by 2007 that had become #919 and #963.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Nora #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nora in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Nora #44 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Nora #44.
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 | Nora |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | A short form of the names Honora (linked to Latin 'honor') or Eleanor — not an independently rooted name; Behind the Name does not specify which is the 'true' source for any given historical bearer. |
| Origin | Germanic | English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.də/ | /ˈnɔrə/ |
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | Norway · Girls #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Nora is recorded with a English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor origin.
- Ada and Nora both have 2 syllables.
- Ada's recorded meaning differs from Nora's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Nora
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 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: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls