Angela vs Nicola
Angela and Nicolacompared 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 1992, Angela was ranked #96 and Nicola #48 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Angela was ranked #89 and Nicola #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Angela was ranked #440 and Nicola #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Angela was ranked #372 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #1229 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Nicola over time
Angela and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Angela in 0.
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 1 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 1980, Nicola moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #5 and #7 the year before became #11 and #6.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Nicola changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1957 and 1992, ending at #96 and #48.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Angela and Nicola averaged 10.9 places apart, ending at #96 and #48.
- Mirrored each other
Over 36 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Nicola rose about as far as Angela fell — from #62 and #97 in 1957 to #96 and #48 in 1992.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1229 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Angela held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicola in 46.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Angela #372, Nicola #898.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1957–1992
Angela held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicola in 27.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Nicola #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1980: Nicola moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #5 and #7; by 1980 that had become #11 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Angela #96, Nicola #48.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicola in 21.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Angela moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #605 and #485; by 2017 that had become #565 and #715.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #1229, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2013
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicola in 11.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Angela #440, Nicola #370.
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 | Angela | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Angela does not have one recorded yet.
- Angela and Nicola both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Angela doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls