Ivy vs Molly
Ivy 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ivy was ranked #5 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ivy was ranked #14 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ivy was ranked #50 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ivy was ranked #22 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Ivy was ranked #24 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ivy was ranked #35 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ivy and Molly over time
Ivy and Molly appear together in 5 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ivy in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, and Ivy 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ivy moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2010 as Molly fell out of it to #55, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2015, Ivy moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #54 and #41 the year before became #42 and #46.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ivy held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Molly in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #5 in 2021, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order changed in 2015: Ivy moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #54 and #41; by 2015 that had become #42 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ivy #5, Molly #104.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2002–2025
Ivy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #49 in 2023, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ivy #50, Molly #20.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2024
Ivy held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Molly in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #26 in 2023, Molly #20 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ivy #35, Molly #28.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 2009–2021
Ivy held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Molly in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #11 in 2020, Molly #46 in 2009.
The order changed in 2010: Ivy moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #55 and #46; by 2010 that had become #30 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ivy #24, Molly #100.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2010–2023
Ivy held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Molly in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #22 in 2020, Molly #38 in 2010.
The order changed in 2013: Ivy moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #54 and #40; by 2013 that had become #39 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ivy #22, Molly #69.
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 | Ivy | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From the English word for the ivy plant. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (plant name) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪvi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #30 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ivy has a recorded origin (English (plant name)); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Ivy and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ivy; Molly 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
Ivy
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #471 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — 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: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #30 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