Amelia vs Holly
Amelia and Hollycompared 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 2025, Amelia was ranked #3 and Holly #169 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Amelia was ranked #3 and Holly #78 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2015, Amelia was ranked #4 and Holly #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Holly #79 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Holly #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Holly #105 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Amelia and Holly over time
Amelia and Holly appear together in 6 published lists, across 211 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 Holly in England and Wales · Girls — #18 and #17 the year before became #15 and #19.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Holly changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1985 and 2015, ending at #4 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amelia and Holly averaged 19.5 places apart, ending at #4 and #98.
- Mirrored each other
Over 34 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Holly fell — from #96 and #36 in 1986 to #3 and #78 in 2020.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Holly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 51 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #169.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Holly #79 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls51 shared years, 1996–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Holly in 9.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Holly #12 in 2002.
The order changed in 2005: Amelia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #18 and #17; by 2005 that had become #15 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #3, Holly #169.
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1976–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Holly in 28.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Holly #11 in 2010.
The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #32 and #23; by 2012 that had become #12 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Holly #69.
New Zealand · Girls34 shared years, 1986–2020
Amelia held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Holly in 20.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2019, Holly #16 in 1994.
The order changed in 2006: Amelia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #20 and #18; by 2006 that had become #17 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Amelia #3, Holly #78.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1985–2015
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Holly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2013, Holly #19 in 2003.
The order changed in 2004: Amelia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #20 and #19; by 2004 that had become #18 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Amelia #4, Holly #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Holly in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Holly #22 in 2003.
The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #33 and #27; by 2012 that had become #4 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Holly #105.
Scotland · Girls27 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Holly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Holly #79 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Holly #79.
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 | Holly |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (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)); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Holly.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Holly 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls