Ava vs Heidi
Ava and Heidicompared 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 2019, Ava was ranked #6 and Heidi #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2022, Ava was ranked #6 and Heidi #99 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #11 and Heidi #130 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Heidi #95 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Heidi #91 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Heidi #65 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #143 and Heidi #437 among girls in Norway.
Ava and Heidi over time
Ava and Heidi appear together in 4 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Heidi in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 2013, Ava moved ahead of Heidi in Norway · Girls — #195 and #175 the year before became #174 and #197.
- Longest-running competitions
Ava and Heidi were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #11 and #130.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ava #3 in 2018, Heidi #76 in 2016.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls37 shared years, 1978–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Heidi in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Heidi #74 in 2019.
The order changed in 1992: Ava moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #442 and #442; by 1992 that had become #363 and #523.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Heidi #91.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Heidi in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Heidi #76 in 2016.
The order changed in 2001: Ava moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #291 and #248; by 2001 that had become #205 and #286.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #11, Heidi #130.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Heidi in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ava #104 in 2020, Heidi #97 in 1999.
The order changed in 2013: Ava moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #195 and #175; by 2013 that had become #174 and #197.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #143, Heidi #437.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1998–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Heidi in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Heidi #48 in 2021.
The order changed in 2001: Ava moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #351 and #261; by 2001 that had become #230 and #293.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Heidi #65.
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 Ava
Pairs where Ava shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Ava
Ella and Ava changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1981 and 2025, ending at #17 and #26.
Ella · Ava · 43 shared years, 1981–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ava vs Zara
Ava and Zara both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Zara · 45 shared years, 1978–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Daisy
Ava and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Daisy · 36 shared years, 1985–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Layla
Ava and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Layla · 35 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Heidi
Pairs where Heidi shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Heidi vs Anna
Heidi and Anna were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #437 and #23.
Heidi · Anna · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Heidi
Anne and Heidi were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #437.
Anne · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Heidi vs Astrid
Heidi and Astrid were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #437 and #9.
Heidi · Astrid · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Heidi vs Elisabeth
Heidi and Elisabeth were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #437 and #171.
Heidi · Elisabeth · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ava | Heidi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | A German diminutive of Adelheid. Gained wide recognition through Johanna Spyri's 1880 children's novel Heidi, and its 1937 film adaptation starring Shirley Temple. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve | Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪvə/ | /ˈhaɪ̯.di/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #91 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ava is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve origin, while Heidi is recorded with a Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid origin.
- Ava and Heidi both have 2 syllables.
- Ava's recorded meaning differs from Heidi's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ava
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Heidi
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #188 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: #2 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #130 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls