Erin vs Molly
Erin 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, Erin was ranked #71 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Erin was ranked #25 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2004, Erin was ranked #96 and Molly #33 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2011, Erin was ranked #81 and Molly #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Erin was ranked #65 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Erin was ranked #72 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
Erin and Molly over time
Erin and Molly appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Erin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Molly in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 2 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Molly moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2004 as Erin fell out of it to #66, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2021, Erin moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #58 and #54 the year before became #59 and #73.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Erin and Molly changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #65 and #104.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Erin and Molly averaged 19.2 places apart, ending at #65 and #104.
- Longest-running competitions
Erin and Molly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #71 and #20.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Erin #5 in 2009, Molly #18 in 2007.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Erin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Molly in 30.
Highest recorded here: Erin #34 in 2006, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order changed in 1999: Molly moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #65 and #87; by 1999 that had become #79 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #71, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Erin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Molly in 14.
Highest recorded here: Erin #27 in 2007, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order changed in 2021: Erin moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #58 and #54; by 2021 that had become #59 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Erin #65, Molly #104.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Erin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Molly in 2.
Highest recorded here: Erin #5 in 2009, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Erin #25, Molly #28.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1996–2011
Erin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Molly in 6.
Highest recorded here: Erin #44 in 2001, Molly #32 in 2005.
The order changed in 2004: Molly moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #50 and #54; by 2004 that had become #66 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Erin #81, Molly #53.
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 | Erin | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland itself. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛɹ.ɪn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #71 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Erin has a recorded origin (Irish); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Erin and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Erin; Molly 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
Erin
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #89 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #71 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls