Namewise

Charlotte vs Molly

Charlotte 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.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Charlotte was ranked #1 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2021, Charlotte was ranked #3 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Charlotte was ranked #6 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Charlotte was ranked #10 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #43 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #25 and Molly #120 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #162 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.

Charlotte and Molly over time

Charlotte and Molly appear together in 6 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Charlotte held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Molly in 2.

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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.

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, Charlotte moved ahead of Molly in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #87 and #86 the year before became #65 and #90.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Charlotte and Molly changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #6 and #28.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Charlotte and Molly averaged 29.6 places apart, ending at #25 and #120.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Charlotte and Molly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #25 and #120.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #5 in 2000, Molly #15 in 2001.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025

    Charlotte held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Molly in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Charlotte #39 in 2018, Molly #18 in 2019.

    The order changed in 1997: Molly moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #119 and #137; by 1997 that had become #109 and #80.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #43, Molly #20.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Charlotte held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Charlotte #5 in 2000, Molly #15 in 2001.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #25, Molly #120.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Charlotte held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Molly in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Charlotte #6 in 2024, Molly #18 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Charlotte #6, Molly #28.

  • New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023

    Charlotte held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Charlotte #1 in 2006, Molly #31 in 2003.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Charlotte #1, Molly #69.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2021

    Charlotte held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Charlotte #1 in 2012, Molly #32 in 2005.

    The order changed in 1997: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #87 and #86; by 1997 that had become #65 and #90.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Charlotte #3, Molly #100.

  • Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025

    Charlotte held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Charlotte #72 in 2003, Molly #167 in 2011.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #162, Molly #217.

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 Charlotte

Pairs where Charlotte shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Charlotte, Molly
FieldCharlotteMolly
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningFree man (feminine form of Charles).Not yet recorded
OriginFrench, feminine of CharlesNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈʃɑɹlət/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesLottie, Charlie, CarlottaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #1 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Charlotte has a recorded origin (French, feminine of Charles); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Charlotte has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Molly.
  • A meaning is recorded for Charlotte; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Charlotte a "high" Data Confidence level and Molly a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Charlotte

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1989–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2012 (recorded 1989–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #25 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls