Freya vs Harper
Freya and Harpercompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #3 and Harper #21 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Freya was ranked #31 and Harper #5 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #6 and Harper #23 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #10 and Harper #84 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #49 and Harper #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #25 and Harper #54 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Freya and Harper over time
Freya and Harper appear together in 6 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Freya held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Harper in 2.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Harper reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Freya 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in Scotland · Girls, Freya and Harper averaged 18.0 places apart, ending at #3 and #21.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Freya #5 in 2023, Harper #22 in 2023.
List by list
Scotland · Girls25 shared years, 2024–2024
Freya held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Harper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #3 in 2024, Harper #21 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Freya #3, Harper #21.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Harper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #5 in 2023, Harper #22 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #6, Harper #23.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Harper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #12 in 2024, Harper #53 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #25, Harper #54.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2012–2024
Freya held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Harper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #9 in 2022, Harper #38 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Freya #10, Harper #84.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 2016–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Harper in 10.
Highest recorded here: Freya #38 in 2023, Harper #7 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #49, Harper #15.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2023
Freya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Harper in 10.
Highest recorded here: Freya #22 in 2021, Harper #2 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Freya #31, Harper #5.
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 Freya
Pairs where Freya shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Freya vs Charlie
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #113 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #747.
Freya · Charlie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Freya vs Hazel
Freya and Hazel both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Hazel · 35 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Freya vs Matilda
Freya and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Matilda · 31 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Harper
Pairs where Harper shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harper vs Aurora
Harper and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Aurora · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Daisy
Harper and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Daisy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Poppy
Harper and Poppy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Poppy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Freya | Harper |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'lady' or 'noblewoman'. | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. |
| Origin | Old Norse | English (occupational surname) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfreɪə/ | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Freyja, Freja | 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 | Scotland · Girls #1 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Freya is recorded with a Old Norse origin, while Harper is recorded with a English (occupational surname) origin.
- Freya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Harper.
- Freya's recorded meaning differs from Harper's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Freya a "high" Data Confidence level and Harper a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Freya
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 recorded2024–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2024–2025).
Scotland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls