Ellie vs Nessa
Ellie and Nessacompared 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 Nessa #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellie was ranked #18 and Nessa #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellie was ranked #88 and Nessa #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellie and Nessa over time
Ellie and Nessa appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Ellie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nessa in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellie and Nessa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #15 and #239.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1987–2025
Ellie held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nessa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #6 in 2023, Nessa #188 in 2014.
The order changed in 1996: Ellie moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #384 and #283; by 1996 that had become #273 and #393.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellie #15, Nessa #239.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2007–2024
Ellie held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nessa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellie #14 in 2007, Nessa #2163 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellie #88, Nessa #3695.
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.
- Ellie vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #88 and #1262.
Ellie · Natasha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellie vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #88 and #1230.
Ellie · Chelsea · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellie vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #88 and #934.
Ellie · Danielle · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellie vs Samantha
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #32 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #88 and #670.
Ellie · Samantha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ellie | Nessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #15 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (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); Nessa does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellie and Nessa both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ellie; Nessa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Nessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls