Ava vs Matilda
Ava and Matildacompared 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 2023, Ava was ranked #8 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #11 and Matilda #19 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #18 and Matilda #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #143 and Matilda #150 among girls in Norway.
Ava and Matilda over time
Ava and Matilda appear together in 6 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Matilda in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ava reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Matilda in none. 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 2005, Ava moved ahead of Matilda in England and Wales · Girls — #153 and #107 the year before became #82 and #89.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ava and Matilda changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1999 and 2025, ending at #143 and #150.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava and Matilda averaged 10.9 places apart, ending at #18 and #16.
- Longest-running competitions
Ava and Matilda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #11 and #19.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #9 in 2016, Matilda #91 in 2017.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Matilda in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Matilda #19 in 2025.
The order changed in 2005: Ava moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #153 and #107; by 2005 that had become #82 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #11, Matilda #19.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Matilda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Matilda #106.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1999–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Matilda in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ava #104 in 2020, Matilda #145 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #143, Matilda #150.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Matilda in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2017, Matilda #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #18, Matilda #16.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Matilda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Matilda #91 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Matilda #110.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2023
Ava held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Matilda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #5 in 2017, Matilda #20 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ava #8, Matilda #27.
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 Matilda
Pairs where Matilda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matilda vs Layla
Matilda and Layla 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.
Matilda · Layla · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mia vs Matilda
Mia and Matilda 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.
Mia · Matilda · 31 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Matilda
Charlotte and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — 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.
Charlotte · Matilda · 33 shared years, 1965–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Matilda vs Daisy
Matilda 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.
Matilda · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
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 | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪvə/ | /məˈtɪldə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Tilly, Mathilde |
| 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) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Ava is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve origin, while Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Ava has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- Ava's recorded meaning differs from Matilda's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Ava a "medium" Data Confidence level and Matilda a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Matilda
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls