Ada vs Precious
Ada and Preciouscompared 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 Precious #1262 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Precious #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Precious #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2010, Ada was ranked #3865 and Precious #4678 among boys in England and Wales.
Ada and Precious over time
Ada and Precious appear together in 2 published lists, across 48 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.
Precious 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Precious in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Precious #397 in 2004.
The order changed in 2011: Ada moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #499 and #476; by 2011 that had become #386 and #534.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #40, Precious #1262.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2001–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Precious in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ada #37 in 2020, Precious #182 in 2002.
The order changed in 2007: Ada moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #550 and #550; by 2007 that had become #373 and #431.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Precious #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 | Precious |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Precious does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Precious both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Precious doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Precious
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #869 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 recorded1999–2025
Highest recorded position: #182 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls