Amanda vs Nicola
Amanda 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Amanda was ranked #67 and Nicola #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Amanda was ranked #84 and Nicola #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Amanda was ranked #440 and Nicola #306 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amanda was ranked #631 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #983 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Amanda and Nicola over time
Amanda and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Amanda 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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Amanda 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 1985, Amanda moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #13 and #9 the year before became #4 and #10.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amanda and Nicola changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2024, ending at #631 and #898.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amanda and Nicola averaged 16.1 places apart, ending at #67 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Amanda and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #983 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Amanda held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nicola in 46.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amanda #631, Nicola #898.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1961–1996
Amanda held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicola in 24.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Nicola #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1985: Amanda moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #13 and #9; by 1985 that had become #4 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Amanda #67, Nicola #91.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicola in 21.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Amanda moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #503 and #485; by 2017 that had become #582 and #715.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #983, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2016
Amanda held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nicola in 12.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Amanda #440, Nicola #306.
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 | Amanda | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #52 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Amanda does not have one recorded yet.
- Amanda and Nicola both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Amanda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Amanda
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #983 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