Holly vs Nicola
Holly and Nicolacompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Holly was ranked #20 and Nicola #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #39 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Holly was ranked #53 and Nicola #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Holly was ranked #69 and Nicola #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Nicola #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #169 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Nicola over time
Holly and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Holly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nicola 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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Holly 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, Holly moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1993 as Nicola fell out of it to #59, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Holly moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #49 and #48 the year before became #37 and #59.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #169 and #4201.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1976–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Nicola in 18.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order changed in 1999: Holly moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #75 and #62; by 1999 that had become #46 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #39, Nicola #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #169, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Holly held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Holly #69, Nicola #397.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1983–1996
Holly held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicola in 9.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Nicola #9 in 1984.
The order changed in 1993: Holly moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #49 and #48; by 1993 that had become #37 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Holly #20, Nicola #91.
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 | Holly | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls