Grace vs Molly
Grace 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #1 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Grace was ranked #4 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Grace was ranked #7 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #13 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Grace was ranked #18 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Grace was ranked #503 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.
Grace and Molly over time
Grace and Molly appear together in 6 published lists, across 153 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Molly 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.
Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Grace 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Grace moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #19 and #15 the year before became #14 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grace and Molly changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #1 and #28.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Grace and Molly averaged 30.6 places apart, ending at #25 and #104.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Molly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #4 and #20.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Grace #1 in 2020, Molly #18 in 2019.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Grace held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2020, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Grace #4, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 7.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order changed in 2003: Grace moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #19 and #15; by 2003 that had become #14 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Molly #104.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 5.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2013, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #1, Molly #28.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023
Grace held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #5 in 2000, Molly #31 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Grace #18, Molly #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2021
Grace held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #7 in 2021, Molly #32 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Grace #7, Molly #100.
Norway · Girls13 shared years, 2006–2025
Grace held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 13.
Highest recorded here: Grace #354 in 2017, Molly #176 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Grace #503, Molly #217.
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 | Grace | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (virtue name), from Latin gratia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹeɪs/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Gracie | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Grace has a recorded origin (English (virtue name), from Latin gratia); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Molly a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Grace
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #393 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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