Amelia vs Nora
Amelia and Noracompared 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 Nora #86 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #2 and Nora #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Nora #3 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Nora #72 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Nora #76 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Nora #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Amelia and Nora over time
Amelia and Nora appear together in 5 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nora in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2007, Amelia moved ahead of Nora in Northern Ireland · Girls — #358 and #314 the year before became #84 and #413.
- Mirrored each other
Over 56 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Nora fell — from #300 and #30 in 1964 to #12 and #76 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Nora were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 42 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #86.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Nora #72 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nora in 30.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Nora #22 in 1965.
The order changed in 2000: Amelia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #322 and #194; by 2000 that had become #269 and #324.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Nora #76.
England and Wales · Girls42 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Nora in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Nora #86 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Nora #86.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1967–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nora in 35.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Nora #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Nora #3.
Scotland · Girls19 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Nora in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Nora #72 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Nora #72.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Nora in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2014, Nora #44 in 2024.
The order changed in 2007: Amelia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #358 and #314; by 2007 that had become #84 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Nora #44.
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 | Nora |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | A short form of the names Honora (linked to Latin 'honor') or Eleanor — not an independently rooted name; Behind the Name does not specify which is the 'true' source for any given historical bearer. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈnɔrə/ |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Nora is recorded with a English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Nora.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Nora's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Nora 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
Nora
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 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: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls