Evelyn vs May
Evelyn and Maycompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Evelyn was ranked #20 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Evelyn was ranked #75 and May #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Evelyn was ranked #94 and May #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Evelyn was ranked #153 and May #481 among girls in Norway.
Evelyn and May over time
Evelyn and May appear together in 4 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Evelyn held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, May in 1.
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 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Evelyn and May changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #153 and #481.
- Longest-running competitions
Evelyn and May were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 79 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #153 and #481.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Evelyn #76 in 2022, May #262 in 2023.
List by list
Norway · Girls79 shared years, 1945–2025
Evelyn held the stronger position in 16 of those years, May in 63.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #102 in 1946, May #24 in 1956.
The order changed in 2011: Evelyn moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #520 and #390; by 2011 that had become #278 and #552.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Evelyn #153, May #481.
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1967–2025
Evelyn held the stronger position in 34 of those years, May in 0.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #76 in 2022, May #262 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Evelyn #94, May #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Evelyn held the stronger position in 29 of those years, May in 0.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #13 in 2023, May #325 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Evelyn #20, May #610.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2009–2024
Evelyn held the stronger position in 7 of those years, May in 0.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #75 in 2024, May #276 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Evelyn #75, May #407.
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 Evelyn
Pairs where Evelyn shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Evelyn vs Audrey
In 1964 they stood at #83 and #85 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #94 and #885.
Evelyn · Audrey · 56 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Evelyn
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
Deborah · Evelyn · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Evelyn vs Katherine
In 1964 they stood at #83 and #77 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #94 and #608.
Evelyn · Katherine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Evelyn
Nora and Evelyn changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #76 and #94.
Nora · Evelyn · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving May
Pairs where May shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs May
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #23 and #481.
Anna · May · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elisabeth vs May
In 1945 they stood at #50 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #171 and #481.
Elisabeth · May · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gunn vs May
In 1945 they stood at #53 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2005 they were #546 and #244.
Gunn · May · 60 shared years, 1945–2005 · Started together, ended far apart
- Laila vs May
Laila and May changed places 18 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #408 and #481.
Laila · May · 79 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Evelyn | May |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From an English surname derived from the given name Aveline. Originally more common for boys in the 17th century, now used almost entirely as a feminine name. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Evelyn has a recorded origin (English (surname origin)); May does not have one recorded yet.
- Evelyn has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- A meaning is recorded for Evelyn; May doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Evelyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #121 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2011–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2011–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 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: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls