Bridget vs Molly
Bridget and Mollycompared 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 2025, Bridget was ranked #213 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #407 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #790 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #1007 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Bridget and Molly over time
Bridget and Molly appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bridget 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.
Bridget reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Molly 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 1997, Molly moved ahead of Bridget in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #71 and #137 the year before became #96 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Bridget and Molly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #213 and #20.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Bridget held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Molly in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #71 in 1996, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order changed in 1997: Molly moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #71 and #137; by 1997 that had become #96 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #213, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #444 in 1998, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bridget #1007, Molly #104.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1998–2024
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 12.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #282 in 2009, Molly #21 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bridget #407, Molly #28.
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 | Bridget | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of the Irish Brighid, with roots in old Celtic 'Brigantī' ('the exalted one'). In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom; the name is also associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint, and with the Scandinavian Birgitta (Saint Birgitta of Sweden). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Celtic (Irish) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Bridget has a recorded origin (Celtic (Irish)); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Bridget and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Bridget; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bridget
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #8 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: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Molly
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls