Ava vs Maja
Ava and Maja compared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #11 and Maja #468 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Maja #244 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Maja #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #143 and Maja #27 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Maja #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ava and Maja over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ava and Maja over time
Ava and Maja appear together in 4 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Maja in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Maja reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ava and Maja were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #11 and #468.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Maja #54 in 2009.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Maja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Maja #128 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #11, Maja #468.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maja in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ava #104 in 2020, Maja #16 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #143, Maja #27.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Maja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Maja #54 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Maja #247.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2006–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Maja #106 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Maja #253.
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 Maja
Pairs where Maja shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Eva vs Maja
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Eva fell — from #13 and #444 in 1960 to #22 and #27 in 2025.
Eva · Maja · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Line vs Maja
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Line fell — from #149 and #444 in 1960 to #357 and #27 in 2025.
Line · Maja · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Maja vs Åse
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Åse fell — from #444 and #39 in 1960 to #27 and #93 in 2025.
Maja · Åse · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Stine vs Maja
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Stine fell — from #215 and #444 in 1960 to #384 and #27 in 2025.
Stine · Maja · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | Maja |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #11 (2025) | Norway · Girls #27 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ava has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve); Maja does not have one recorded yet.
- Ava and Maja both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ava; Maja doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Maja
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #444 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1960–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1960–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls