Kelly vs Nicola
Kelly 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1992, Kelly was ranked #83 and Nicola #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Kelly was ranked #70 and Nicola #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Kelly was ranked #365 and Nicola #314 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Kelly was ranked #634 and Nicola #559 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kelly was ranked #790 and Nicola #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Kelly was ranked #3523 and Nicola #4107 among boys in England and Wales.
Kelly and Nicola over time
Kelly and Nicola appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kelly 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 2 of those lists, Kelly 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 1995, Kelly moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #77 and #65 the year before became #52 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kelly and Nicola changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2006 and #4201.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Kelly and Nicola averaged 11.3 places apart, ending at #70 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1969–2022
Kelly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Nicola in 34.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Kelly #634, Nicola #559.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicola in 18.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Nicola #4201.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1970–1996
Kelly held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nicola in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Nicola #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1995: Kelly moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #77 and #65; by 1995 that had become #52 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Kelly #70, Nicola #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2014
Kelly held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nicola in 9.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Kelly #365, Nicola #314.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 2002–2023
Kelly held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicola in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #2070 in 2004, Nicola #3013 in 2019.
The order changed in 2023: Kelly moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #4702 and #3013; by 2023 that had become #3523 and #4107.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #3523, Nicola #4107.
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 | Kelly | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (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); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Kelly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Kelly 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
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 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