Elise vs May
Elise and Maycompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Elise was ranked #63 and May #481 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elise was ranked #320 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Elise was ranked #337 and May #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elise was ranked #381 and May #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Elise and May over time
Elise and May appear together in 3 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Elise held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, May in 0.
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.
Elise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, May 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 1985, Elise moved ahead of May in Norway · Girls — #96 and #82 the year before became #88 and #133.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elise and May changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1985 and 2025, ending at #381 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Elise and May were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 80 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #63 and #481.
List by list
Norway · Girls80 shared years, 1945–2025
Elise held the stronger position in 40 of those years, May in 40.
Highest recorded here: Elise #23 in 2001, May #24 in 1956.
The order changed in 1985: Elise moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #96 and #82; by 1985 that had become #88 and #133.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elise #63, May #481.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elise held the stronger position in 29 of those years, May in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elise #96 in 2002, May #325 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elise #320, May #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1985–2025
Elise held the stronger position in 23 of those years, May in 3.
Highest recorded here: Elise #132 in 2014, May #262 in 2023.
The order changed in 2025: Elise moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #372 and #342; by 2025 that had become #381 and #718.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elise #381, May #718.
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 | Elise | May |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Elizabeth, used across Germanic and Scandinavian languages. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /eˈliː.seh/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #63 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elise has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission); May does not have one recorded yet.
- Elise has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- A meaning is recorded for Elise; May doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Elise
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #223 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls