Amelia vs Ellen
Amelia and Ellencompared 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 Ellen #736 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Ellen #541 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Ellen #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Ellen #150 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Ellen #208 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Amelia was ranked #57 and Ellen #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Amelia was ranked #90 and Ellen #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Amelia and Ellen over time
Amelia and Ellen appear together in 6 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ellen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Amelia 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Amelia moved into the top 50 at #45 in 2010 as Ellen fell out of it to #65, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Amelia moved ahead of Ellen in England and Wales · Girls — #63 and #63 the year before became #49 and #66.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Ellen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 40 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #736.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Ellen #541 in 2024.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #63 in England and Wales · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2024 they were #2 and #736.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Ellen in 39.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Ellen #23 in 2002.
The order changed in 2009: Amelia moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #45 and #39; by 2009 that had become #39 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Ellen #166.
England and Wales · Girls40 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Ellen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Ellen #63 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Amelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #63 and #63; by 1997 that had become #49 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Ellen #736.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1967–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ellen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Ellen #29 in 1967.
The order changed in 2006: Amelia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #184 and #149; by 2006 that had become #136 and #161.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Ellen #208.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ellen in 12.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Ellen #21 in 2000.
The order changed in 2010: Amelia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #58 and #47; by 2010 that had become #45 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Ellen #150.
Scotland · Girls17 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Ellen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Ellen #541 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Ellen #541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Amelia held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ellen in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #54 in 1991, Ellen #68 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Amelia #57, Ellen #73.
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 | Ellen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ellen.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Ellen 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 Ellen 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
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls