Freya vs Madison
Freya and Madison compared 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 Madison #135 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #6 and Madison #175 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #10 and Madison #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #25 and Madison #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Freya was ranked #31 and Madison #44 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2018, Freya was ranked #56 and Madison #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Freya and Madison over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Freya and Madison over time
Freya and Madison appear together in 4 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Freya held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Madison in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Madison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Freya 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Freya moved into the top 50 at #27 in 2018 as Madison fell out of it to #57, having been #30 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Freya moved ahead of Madison in New Zealand · Girls — #56 and #30 the year before became #27 and #57.
- Longest-running competitions
Freya and Madison were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #6 and #175.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Madison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #5 in 2023, Madison #35 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #6, Madison #175.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 2000–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Madison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Freya #12 in 2024, Madison #86 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #25, Madison #148.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2024
Freya held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Madison in 11.
Highest recorded here: Freya #9 in 2022, Madison #37 in 2006.
The order changed in 2013: Freya moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #62 and #50; by 2013 that had become #35 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Freya #10, Madison #134.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2023
Freya held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Madison in 4.
Highest recorded here: Freya #22 in 2021, Madison #30 in 2017.
The order changed in 2018: Freya moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #56 and #30; by 2018 that had become #27 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Freya #31, Madison #44.
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 Ivy
Freya and Ivy 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 · Ivy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Madison
Pairs where Madison shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Amelia vs Madison
Amelia and Madison both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Madison · 32 shared years, 1994–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Madison
Charlotte and Madison both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlotte · Madison · 32 shared years, 1994–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Emily vs Madison
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Emily #1 in 1998, Madison #18 in 2000.
Emily · Madison · 26 shared years, 1993–2018 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Madison
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Madison #14 in 2001.
Emma · Madison · 30 shared years, 1994–2023 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
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 | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'lady' or 'noblewoman'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Norse | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfreɪə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Freyja, Freja | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Freya has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Madison does not have one recorded yet.
- Freya has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Madison.
- A meaning is recorded for Freya; Madison doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Madison 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
Madison
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1994–2023
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1994–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #175 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls