Belinda vs Nessa
Belinda and Nessacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Belinda was ranked #498 and Nessa #425 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Belinda was ranked #5927 and Nessa #1719 among girls in England and Wales.
Belinda and Nessa over time
Belinda and Nessa appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Belinda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Nessa 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Belinda and Nessa changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 1998, ending at #498 and #425.
- Longest-running competitions
Belinda and Nessa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1964 to 1998, ending at #498 and #425.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1964–1998
Belinda held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nessa in 13.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #179 in 1967, Nessa #127 in 1975.
The order changed in 1994: Nessa moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #340 and #415; by 1994 that had become #502 and #350.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Belinda #498, Nessa #425.
England and Wales · Girls11 shared years, 2007–2025
Belinda held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nessa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #2062 in 2013, Nessa #1719 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Nessa moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #3985 and #5666; by 2021 that had become #4634 and #3519.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Belinda #5927, Nessa #1719.
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 Belinda
Pairs where Belinda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Karen vs Belinda
In 1974, Belinda moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #8 the year before became #9 and #6.
Karen · Belinda · 30 shared years, 1957–1986 · One moved ahead of the other
- Jessica vs Belinda
In 1982, Jessica moved ahead of Belinda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #21 and #10 the year before became #7 and #17.
Jessica · Belinda · 17 shared years, 1976–1992 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Belinda
In 1977, Sarah moved ahead of Belinda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #11 and #6 the year before became #7 and #8.
Sarah · Belinda · 28 shared years, 1965–1992 · One moved ahead of the other
- Angela vs Belinda
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Belinda averaged 7.6 places apart, ending at #58 and #88.
Angela · Belinda · 36 shared years, 1957–1992 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Belinda | Nessa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5927 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Belinda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Nessa.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Belinda
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1957–1992).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls