Ellie vs Molly
Ellie 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellie was ranked #15 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellie was ranked #18 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellie was ranked #33 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellie was ranked #35 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ellie was ranked #40 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Ellie was ranked #42 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ellie was ranked #119 and Molly #120 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellie and Molly over time
Ellie and Molly appear together in 6 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Ellie held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Molly 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.
Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Ellie 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 2013, Ellie moved ahead of Molly in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #68 and #61 the year before became #50 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ellie and Molly changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #119 and #120.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ellie and Molly averaged 8.7 places apart, ending at #119 and #120.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellie and Molly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #119 and #120.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellie #2 in 2003, Molly #15 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Ellie held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Molly in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #6 in 2023, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order changed in 2013: Ellie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #28 and #27; by 2013 that had become #23 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellie #15, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ellie held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Molly in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #2 in 2003, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellie #119, Molly #120.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellie held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #3 in 2005, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order changed in 2002: Ellie moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #31 and #27; by 2002 that had become #18 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellie #18, Molly #28.
Norway · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2025
Ellie held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Molly in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #30 in 2021, Molly #167 in 2011.
The order changed in 2013: Ellie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #287 and #176; by 2013 that had become #202 and #227.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellie #33, Molly #217.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2002–2021
Ellie held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Molly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #35 in 2020, Molly #32 in 2005.
The order changed in 2013: Ellie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #68 and #61; by 2013 that had become #50 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ellie #42, Molly #100.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2011–2023
Ellie held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Molly in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #36 in 2022, Molly #40 in 2012.
The order changed in 2014: Ellie moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #74 and #59; by 2014 that had become #58 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ellie #40, Molly #69.
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 | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #15 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (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); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellie and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ellie; 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
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
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls