Dora vs Nicola
Dora 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Dora was ranked #621 and Nicola #551 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dora was ranked #1065 and Nicola #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Dora and Nicola over time
Dora and Nicola appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dora 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dora held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nicola in 25.
Highest recorded here: Dora #952 in 2018, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Dora moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1326 and #1282; by 2023 that had become #1056 and #2689.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dora #1065, Nicola #2253.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1964–2019
Dora held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicola in 18.
Highest recorded here: Dora #202 in 1965, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Dora #621, Nicola #551.
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 | Dora | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | 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, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1065 (2024) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Dora does not have one recorded yet.
- Dora has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Dora doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Dora
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #222 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 recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #202 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1065 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls