Alexandra vs Monica
Alexandra and Monicacompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Alexandra was ranked #26 and Monica #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Alexandra was ranked #43 and Monica #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Alexandra was ranked #61 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Alexandra was ranked #129 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alexandra was ranked #148 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #176 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #215 and Monica #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Alexandra and Monica over time
Alexandra and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Alexandra 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 2 of those lists, Alexandra in 1. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1996, Alexandra moved ahead of Monica in Norway · Girls — #144 and #118 the year before became #109 and #135.
- Mirrored each other
Over 53 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alexandra rose about as far as Monica fell — from #400 and #296 in 1952 to #129 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexandra and Monica were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 53 years, from 1952 to 2017, ending at #129 and #542.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alexandra #38 in 1996, Monica #274 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1952–2017
Alexandra held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Monica in 34.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #70 in 2004, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 1996: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #144 and #118; by 1996 that had become #109 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alexandra #129, Monica #542.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Alexandra held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Monica in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #67 in 1998, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order changed in 1988: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #310 and #256; by 1988 that had become #222 and #252.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexandra #148, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexandra held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #38 in 1996, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexandra #215, Monica #1449.
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 | Alexandra | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Alexandra does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexandra has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Alexandra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexandra 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
Alexandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #400 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2015
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1969–2015).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #212 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls