Namewise

Alma vs Monica

Alma 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.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2017, Alma was ranked #12 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Alma was ranked #234 and Monica #1449 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Alma was ranked #315 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Alma was ranked #625 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Alma and Monica over time

Alma and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Monica held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alma in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, and Alma 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alma and Monica changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #625 and #727.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 56 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Monica fell — from #390 and #315 in 1946 to #12 and #542 in 2017.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alma and Monica were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 56 years, from 1946 to 2017, ending at #12 and #542.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls56 shared years, 1946–2017

    Alma held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Monica in 41.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #12 in 2017, Monica #3 in 1971.

    The order changed in 2001: Alma moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #364 and #302; by 2001 that had become #281 and #316.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Alma #12, Monica #542.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2023

    Alma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Monica in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #204 in 1978, Monica #68 in 1965.

    The order changed in 2010: Alma moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #842 and #549; by 2010 that had become #663 and #910.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Alma #625, Monica #727.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Alma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Monica in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #228 in 2023, Monica #274 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2011: Alma moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #1040 and #730; by 2011 that had become #702 and #973.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alma #234, 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alma

Pairs where Alma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Monica

Pairs where Monica shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alma, Monica
FieldAlmaMonica
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedPrecise 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.
OriginNot yet recordedUncertain (Berber or Phoenician)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈmoː.ni.kaː/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedMonika, Mona
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #8 (2025)Scotland · Girls #790 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Alma does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
  • A meaning is recorded for Monica; Alma doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Alma 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

Alma

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #293 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Monica

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1946–2017

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls