Ivy vs Ruby
Ivy and Rubycompared 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 Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ivy was ranked #14 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ivy was ranked #22 and Ruby #17 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Ivy was ranked #30 and Ruby #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ivy was ranked #35 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ivy was ranked #50 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ivy and Ruby over time
Ivy and Ruby appear together in 5 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ivy in 0.
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.
Ruby 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Ivy moved ahead of Ruby in England and Wales · Girls — #33 and #26 the year before became #25 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ivy and Ruby changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 2009 and 2025, ending at #30 and #28.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ivy #26 in 2023, Ruby #19 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ivy held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ruby in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #5 in 2021, Ruby #1 in 2007.
The order changed in 2017: Ivy moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #33 and #26; by 2017 that had become #25 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ivy #5, Ruby #41.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2002–2025
Ivy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #49 in 2023, Ruby #16 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ivy #50, Ruby #36.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2009–2025
Ivy held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ruby in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #11 in 2020, Ruby #2 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ivy #30, Ruby #28.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2024
Ivy held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Ruby in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #26 in 2023, Ruby #19 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ivy #35, Ruby #38.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 2010–2023
Ivy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ivy #22 in 2020, Ruby #3 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ivy #22, Ruby #17.
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 | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From the English word for the ivy plant. | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. |
| Origin | English (plant name) | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪvi/ | /ˈruːbi/ |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ivy is recorded with a English (plant name) origin, while Ruby is recorded with a English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') origin.
- Ivy and Ruby both have 2 syllables.
- Ivy's recorded meaning differs from Ruby's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — 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: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls