Ava vs Holly
Ava and Hollycompared 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 2015, Ava was ranked #5 and Holly #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Ava was ranked #7 and Holly #78 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #9 and Holly #137 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Holly #79 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Holly #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Holly #105 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ava and Holly over time
Ava and Holly appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Holly 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.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Ava 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 2008, Ava moved ahead of Holly in England and Wales · Girls — #38 and #20 the year before became #21 and #22.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ava rose about as far as Holly fell — from #351 and #42 in 1998 to #32 and #105 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Ava and Holly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1981 to 2025, ending at #26 and #69.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Holly #11 in 2010.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1981–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Holly in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Holly #11 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Holly #69.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Holly in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Holly #12 in 2002.
The order changed in 2008: Ava moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #38 and #20; by 2008 that had become #21 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #9, Holly #137.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1998–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Holly in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Holly #22 in 2003.
The order changed in 2008: Ava moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #46 and #30; by 2008 that had become #24 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Holly #105.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 2003–2020
Ava held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Holly in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ava #5 in 2017, Holly #16 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Ava moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #26 and #22; by 2007 that had become #18 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Ava #7, Holly #78.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 2003–2015
Ava held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Holly in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ava #5 in 2014, Holly #19 in 2003.
The order changed in 2005: Ava moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #57 and #21; by 2005 that had become #22 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Ava #5, Holly #98.
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 | Ava | Holly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪvə/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #18 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Ava and Holly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ava; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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 #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls