Eva vs Holly
Eva 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2015, Eva was ranked #26 and Holly #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Eva was ranked #42 and Holly #105 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Eva was ranked #54 and Holly #137 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Eva was ranked #59 and Holly #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Eva was ranked #62 and Holly #79 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Eva was ranked #69 and Holly #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Eva and Holly over time
Eva and Holly appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Eva held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Holly in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 Eva 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 2012, Eva moved ahead of Holly in England and Wales · Girls — #33 and #26 the year before became #24 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Eva and Holly changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #69 and #69.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Eva and Holly averaged 32.9 places apart, ending at #42 and #105.
- Longest-running competitions
Eva and Holly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #69 and #69.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2025
Eva held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Holly in 33.
Highest recorded here: Eva #37 in 2016, Holly #11 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eva #69, Holly #69.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Eva held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Holly in 16.
Highest recorded here: Eva #24 in 2012, Holly #12 in 2002.
The order changed in 2012: Eva moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #33 and #26; by 2012 that had become #24 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eva #54, Holly #137.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Eva held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Holly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Eva #8 in 2009, Holly #22 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Eva moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #31 and #29; by 2007 that had become #16 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eva #42, Holly #105.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 2002–2020
Eva held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Holly in 8.
Highest recorded here: Eva #19 in 2012, Holly #16 in 2003.
The order changed in 2010: Eva moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #32 and #25; by 2010 that had become #24 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Eva #59, Holly #78.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 2005–2015
Eva held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Holly in 5.
Highest recorded here: Eva #21 in 2011, Holly #27 in 2008.
The order changed in 2010: Eva moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #31 and #30; by 2010 that had become #26 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Eva #26, Holly #98.
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 | Eva | Holly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Eve used across many languages, from the Hebrew root 'hawa'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeh.vah/ | |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #22 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (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
- Eva has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Eva and Holly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Eva; 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
Eva
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #8 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 1952 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls