Ada vs Philomena
Ada and Philomenacompared 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 Philomena #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Philomena #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Philomena over time
Ada and Philomena appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Philomena 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.
Philomena 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Philomena fell — from #2683 and #1914 in 1996 to #40 and #4843 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Philomena in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Philomena #1658 in 2002.
The order changed in 2003: Ada moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #2301 and #1658; by 2003 that had become #1628 and #4373.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Philomena #4843.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1964–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Philomena in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Philomena #72 in 1964.
The order changed in 2006: Ada moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #689 and #424; by 2006 that had become #550 and #635.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Philomena #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.
Side by side
| Field | Ada | Philomena |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Philomena does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Philomena.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Philomena 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
Philomena
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #72 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #72 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls