Charley vs Nicola
Charley and Nicolacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Charley was ranked #384 and Nicola #790 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Charley was ranked #397 and Nicola #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Charley was ranked #736 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Charley was ranked #1512 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Charley was ranked #5137 and Nicola #5137 among boys in England and Wales.
Charley and Nicola over time
Charley and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 85 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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Charley 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
Charley and Nicola changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1512 and #4201.
- Longest-running competitions
Charley and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1512 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Charley #283 in 1996, Nicola #2863 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Charley held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Nicola in 16.
Highest recorded here: Charley #146 in 1999, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Charley moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1556 and #1282; by 2023 that had become #1863 and #2689.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charley #1512, Nicola #4201.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Charley held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Nicola in 20.
Highest recorded here: Charley #273 in 2013, Nicola #69 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Charley moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #700 and #628; by 2024 that had become #736 and #898.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charley #736, Nicola #898.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1999–2020
Charley held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nicola in 8.
Highest recorded here: Charley #115 in 2007, Nicola #92 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Charley #397, Nicola #397.
England and Wales · Boys13 shared years, 1996–2025
Charley held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charley #283 in 1996, Nicola #2863 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charley #5137, Nicola #5137.
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 | Charley | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Charley does not have one recorded yet.
- Charley has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Charley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Charley
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #115 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1512 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls