Namewise

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Ellie

Pairs where Ellie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ellie, Molly
FieldEllieMolly
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA diminutive of several longer names, particularly Eleanor, Ellen and Elizabeth.Not yet recorded
OriginVarious, diminutive formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛl.i/
Syllables22
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, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #15 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #119 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls