Ellen vs Nina
Ellen and Ninacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Nina #63 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Nina #97 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Nina #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Nina #160 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #208 and Nina #195 among girls in Norway.
Ellen and Nina over time
Ellen and Nina appear together in 4 published lists, across 192 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Nina in none. 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 2011, Nina moved ahead of Ellen in England and Wales · Girls — #216 and #235 the year before became #258 and #195.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ellen and Nina averaged 38.8 places apart, ending at #208 and #195.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Nina were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #208 and #195.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Nina in 63.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #15 in 1955, Nina #3 in 1964.
The order changed in 2019: Nina moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #159 and #163; by 2019 that had become #178 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #208, Nina #195.
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1967–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Nina in 6.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Nina #83 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Nina moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #86 and #119; by 2020 that had become #111 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Nina #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Nina in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Nina #137 in 2021.
The order changed in 2011: Nina moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #216 and #235; by 2011 that had become #258 and #195.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Nina #160.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nina in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Nina #63 in 2024.
The order changed in 2018: Nina moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #103 and #134; by 2018 that had become #145 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Nina #63.
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 | Ellen | Nina |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of names ending in '-nina', such as Antonina or Giannina; imported to Western Europe from Russia and Italy in the 19th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Various (Russian/Italian short-form tradition) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnʲi.nə/ | |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nina has a recorded origin (Various (Russian/Italian short-form tradition)); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen and Nina both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nina; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 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: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Nina
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #132 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: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1964 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #195 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls