Namewise

Ella vs Madison

Ella and Madisoncompared 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, Ella was ranked #9 and Madison #44 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Madison #135 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Madison #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2018, Ella was ranked #17 and Madison #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Madison #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Madison #166 among girls in England and Wales.

Ella and Madison over time

Ella and Madison appear together in 5 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Madison 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.

Madison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Ella 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 2001, Ella moved ahead of Madison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #29 and #18 the year before became #19 and #20.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ella and Madison averaged 29.2 places apart, ending at #17 and #89.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ella held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Madison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Madison #35 in 2007.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #39, Madison #166.

  • New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 19952023

    Ella held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Madison in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #1 in 2007, Madison #14 in 2001.

    The order changed in 1997: Ella moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #50 and #35; by 1997 that had become #36 and #40.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Ella #9, Madison #44.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 19972024

    Ella held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Madison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Madison #37 in 2006.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Madison #134.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 19952025

    Ella held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Madison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Madison #86 in 2014.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Madison #148.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 19982018

    Ella held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Madison in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2007, Madison #18 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2001: Ella moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #29 and #18; by 2001 that had become #19 and #20.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Ella #17, Madison #89.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ella, Madison
FieldEllaMadison
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English.Not yet recorded
OriginGermanic, diminutive formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛl.ə/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #4 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Madison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ella has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Madison.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ella; Madison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Ella

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1993–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Madison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1993

    First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1994–2023

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1994–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls