Alice vs Nicola
Alice and Nicolacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Alice was ranked #39 and Nicola #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Alice was ranked #44 and Nicola #91 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alice was ranked #52 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #52 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #76 and Nicola #790 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Alice was ranked #92 and Nicola #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Alice and Nicola over time
Alice and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Alice 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Alice moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #42 and #36 the year before became #45 and #48.
- Longest-running competitions
Alice and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #52 and #4201.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #63 and #72 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2020 they were #39 and #397.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Alice held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Nicola in 31.
Highest recorded here: Alice #29 in 2022, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alice #52, Nicola #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alice held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alice #17 in 2016, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alice #52, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Alice held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alice #39 in 2020, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alice #39, Nicola #397.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1979–1996
Alice held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicola in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alice #34 in 1989, Nicola #6 in 1980.
The order changed in 1992: Alice moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #42 and #36; by 1992 that had become #45 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alice #44, Nicola #91.
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 | Alice | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Alice does not have one recorded yet.
- Alice and Nicola both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Alice doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alice
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #292 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2016 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls