Hanna vs Monica
Hanna and Monicacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Hanna was ranked #39 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Hanna was ranked #185 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hanna was ranked #244 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Hanna was ranked #296 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Hanna was ranked #352 and Monica #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Hanna and Monica over time
Hanna and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Monica held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Hanna in 1.
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.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Hanna 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hanna and Monica changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #296 and #727.
- Mirrored each other
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Girls, Hanna rose about as far as Monica fell — from #156 and #315 in 1946 to #39 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Hanna and Monica were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #352 and #1229.
List by list
Norway · Girls69 shared years, 1946–2017
Hanna held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Monica in 35.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #22 in 2004, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Hanna #39, Monica #542.
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1964–2023
Hanna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Monica in 27.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #86 in 2013, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order changed in 2005: Hanna moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #576 and #370; by 2005 that had become #398 and #587.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hanna #296, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hanna held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Monica in 3.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #141 in 2016, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order changed in 1999: Hanna moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #383 and #278; by 1999 that had become #338 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hanna #352, Monica #1229.
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 | Hanna | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #53 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1229 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Hanna does not have one recorded yet.
- Hanna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Hanna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Hanna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Hanna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #164 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: #22 among girls in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls