Ellie vs Holly
Ellie and Hollycompared 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 2025, Ellie was ranked #15 and Holly #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellie was ranked #18 and Holly #105 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellie was ranked #35 and Holly #79 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Ellie was ranked #39 and Holly #78 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2015, Ellie was ranked #45 and Holly #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ellie was ranked #119 and Holly #169 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellie and Holly over time
Ellie and Holly appear together in 5 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Ellie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Holly in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Ellie 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 2019, Ellie moved ahead of Holly in England and Wales · Girls — #60 and #56 the year before became #63 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ellie and Holly changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #119 and #169.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ellie and Holly averaged 12.4 places apart, ending at #119 and #169.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ellie rose about as far as Holly fell — from #147 and #46 in 1997 to #18 and #105 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellie and Holly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #119 and #169.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellie #2 in 2003, Holly #12 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1987–2025
Ellie held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Holly in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #6 in 2023, Holly #11 in 2010.
The order changed in 2013: Ellie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #28 and #19; by 2013 that had become #23 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellie #15, Holly #69.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ellie held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Holly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #2 in 2003, Holly #12 in 2002.
The order changed in 2019: Ellie moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #60 and #56; by 2019 that had become #63 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellie #119, Holly #169.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellie held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Holly in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #3 in 2005, Holly #22 in 2003.
The order changed in 2001: Ellie moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #47 and #33; by 2001 that had become #31 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellie #18, Holly #105.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1992–2015
Ellie held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Holly in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #45 in 2015, Holly #19 in 2003.
The order changed in 2013: Ellie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #68 and #52; by 2013 that had become #50 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Ellie #45, Holly #98.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 2011–2020
Ellie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Holly in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #39 in 2020, Holly #27 in 2011.
The order changed in 2015: Ellie moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #58 and #44; by 2015 that had become #40 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Ellie #39, Holly #78.
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 | Ellie | Holly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of several longer names, particularly Eleanor, Ellen and Elizabeth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Various, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.i/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #15 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ellie has a recorded origin (Various, diminutive form); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellie and Holly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ellie; Holly 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
Ellie
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls