Andrea vs Jessica
Andrea and Jessicacompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Andrea was ranked #94 and Jessica #3 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Andrea was ranked #355 and Jessica #25 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #98 and Jessica #474 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #1079 and Jessica #139 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #304 and Jessica #141 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Andrea and Jessica over time
Andrea and Jessica appear together in 5 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Jessica held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Andrea in 1.
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.
Andrea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jessica 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 1978, Jessica moved ahead of Andrea in New Zealand · Girls — #21 and #65 the year before became #28 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrea and Jessica changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #98 and #474.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Jessica rose about as far as Andrea fell — from #185 and #380 in 1966 to #304 and #141 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrea and Jessica were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #139.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jessica in 44.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #62 in 1985, Jessica #12 in 1995.
The order changed in 1986: Jessica moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #62 and #76; by 1986 that had become #63 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #304, Jessica #141.
Norway · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Jessica in 3.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #11 in 2005, Jessica #143 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #98, Jessica #474.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jessica in 30.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #354 in 1998, Jessica #1 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #1079, Jessica #139.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jessica in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #119 in 1999, Jessica #4 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Andrea #355, Jessica #25.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1977–1988
Andrea held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jessica in 11.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #21 in 1977, Jessica #2 in 1984.
The order changed in 1978: Jessica moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #21 and #65; by 1978 that had become #28 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Andrea #94, Jessica #3.
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 | Andrea | Jessica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Coined by William Shakespeare for his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, where it belongs to Shylock's daughter — likely based on the biblical name Iscah, also spelled Jescha/Jischa in some translations of Shakespeare's time. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɛs.ɪ.kə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #98 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jessica has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage); Andrea does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrea has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jessica.
- A meaning is recorded for Jessica; Andrea doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrea
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #401 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1952–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1079 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jessica
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #471 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls