Amelia vs Amy
Amelia and Amycompared 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, Amelia was ranked #2 and Amy #363 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Amelia was ranked #7 and Amy #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Amy #275 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2012, Amelia was ranked #8 and Amy #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Amy #138 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Amy #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Amy #457 among girls in Norway.
Amelia and Amy over time
Amelia and Amy appear together in 7 published lists, across 226 years of shared records. Amy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Amelia in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Amy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Amelia 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 2005, Amelia moved ahead of Amy in England and Wales · Girls — #18 and #13 the year before became #15 and #17.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Amy changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1989 and 2025, ending at #39 and #457.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amelia and Amy averaged 43.8 places apart, ending at #7 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Amy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 43 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #363.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Amy #275 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1965–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Amy in 39.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Amy #4 in 2004.
The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #32 and #25; by 2012 that had become #12 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Amy #138.
England and Wales · Girls43 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Amy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Amy #9 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Amelia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #18 and #13; by 2005 that had become #15 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Amy #363.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1989–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Amy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Amy #269 in 2008.
The order changed in 2001: Amelia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #365 and #348; by 2001 that had become #368 and #431.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Amy #457.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1986–2012
Amelia held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Amy in 18.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #8 in 2012, Amy #7 in 1986.
The order changed in 2004: Amelia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #27 and #25; by 2004 that had become #22 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amelia #8, Amy #82.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Amy in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Amy #5 in 2003.
The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #33 and #29; by 2012 that had become #4 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Amy #253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1985–2012
Amelia held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Amy in 16.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2012, Amy #7 in 1988.
The order changed in 2003: Amelia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #33 and #18; by 2003 that had become #20 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amelia #7, Amy #90.
Scotland · Girls20 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Amy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Amy #275 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Amy #275.
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 | Amelia | Amy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #138 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Amy does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Amy.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Amy 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 Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Amy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Amy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2012
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1975–2012).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #457 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls