Namewise

Amelia vs Molly

Amelia and Mollycompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2021, Amelia was ranked #2 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Amelia was ranked #2 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Amelia was ranked #3 and Molly #120 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.

Amelia and Molly over time

Amelia and Molly appear together in 7 published lists, across 207 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Molly in 2.

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.

Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 2004, Amelia moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #21 and #18 the year before became #18 and #21.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 50 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Amelia and Molly averaged 58.6 places apart, ending at #3 and #120.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Amelia and Molly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 50 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #120.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #3 in 2017, Molly #18 in 2019.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls50 shared years, 1996–2025

    Amelia held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Molly in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Molly #15 in 2001.

    The order changed in 2004: Amelia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #21 and #18; by 2004 that had become #18 and #21.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #3, Molly #120.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1991–2025

    Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Molly in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Molly #18 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2011: Amelia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #34 and #31; by 2011 that had become #32 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Molly #20.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024

    Amelia held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Molly in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Molly #18 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #33 and #26; by 2012 that had become #4 and #25.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Molly #28.

  • Scotland · Girls26 shared years, 2024–2024

    Amelia held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Molly #68 in 2024.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Molly #68.

  • New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023

    Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #2 in 2022, Molly #31 in 2003.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Amelia #2, Molly #69.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2021

    Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2020, Molly #32 in 2005.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Amelia #2, Molly #100.

  • Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025

    Amelia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Molly #167 in 2011.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Molly #217.

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 Amelia

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

Other comparisons involving Molly

Pairs where Molly 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 — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

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

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Amelia, Molly
FieldAmeliaMolly
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia.Not yet recorded
OriginLatin (influence)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/əˈmiːliə/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesAmelie, Amalia, Amy, MiaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationUnited Kingdom #1 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Molly.
  • A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Molly 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 Molly 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1989

    First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls