Ella vs Molly
Ella 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ella was ranked #4 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ella was ranked #9 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Ella was ranked #10 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Ella and Molly over time
Ella and Molly appear together in 6 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Molly in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2003, Ella moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #16 and #15 the year before became #12 and #18.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ella and Molly averaged 28.0 places apart, ending at #39 and #104.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ella rose about as far as Molly fell — from #85 and #60 in 1998 to #10 and #100 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Ella and Molly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #17 and #20.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Ella #2 in 2007, Molly #32 in 2005.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1991–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order changed in 2003: Ella moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #16 and #15; by 2003 that had become #12 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #39, Molly #104.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Molly in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order changed in 2008: Ella moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #22 and #18; by 2008 that had become #20 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Molly #28.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023
Ella held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ella #1 in 2007, Molly #31 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ella #9, Molly #69.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2019, Molly #167 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #4, Molly #217.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2021
Ella held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Molly in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2007, Molly #32 in 2005.
The order changed in 1999: Ella moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #85 and #60; by 1999 that had become #52 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ella #10, Molly #100.
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 | Ella | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A 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 |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Ella and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Molly
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls