Namewise

Ava vs Imogen

Ava and Imogencompared 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 2022, Ava was ranked #6 and Imogen #81 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #9 and Imogen #64 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Imogen #97 among girls in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #14 and Imogen #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Imogen #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Imogen #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.

Ava and Imogen over time

Ava and Imogen appear together in 5 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Imogen in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Imogen 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 Imogen in England and Wales · Girls — #38 and #33 the year before became #21 and #33.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava and Imogen averaged 46.6 places apart, ending at #14 and #86.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava rose about as far as Imogen fell — from #80 and #40 in 2003 to #14 and #86 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ava and Imogen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #26 and #483.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 19922025

    Ava held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Imogen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Imogen #255 in 2020.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Imogen #483.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ava held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Imogen in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Imogen #26 in 2010.

    The order changed in 2008: Ava moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #38 and #33; by 2008 that had become #21 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #9, Imogen #64.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 19982024

    Ava held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Imogen in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Imogen #103 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2003: Ava moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #227 and #227; by 2003 that had become #114 and #185.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Imogen #119.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 20032024

    Ava held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Imogen in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2017, Imogen #33 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2005: Ava moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #57 and #41; by 2005 that had become #22 and #48.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #14, Imogen #86.

  • New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 20052022

    Ava held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Imogen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #6 in 2022, Imogen #56 in 2009.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Ava #6, Imogen #81.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ava, Imogen
FieldAvaImogen
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningMeaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence.Not yet recorded
OriginDisputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of EveNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪvə/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #18 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #483 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ava has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve); Imogen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ava has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Imogen.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ava; Imogen 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1978–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Imogen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1979

    First recorded at #523 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in England and Wales, in 2010 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls