Kim vs Nicola
Kim 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 1985, Kim was ranked #78 and Nicola #10 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kim was ranked #451 and Nicola #268 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kim was ranked #3333 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2013, Kim was ranked #3822 and Nicola #3822 among boys in England and Wales.
Kim and Nicola over time
Kim and Nicola appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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
Kim and Nicola changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1958 and 1985, ending at #78 and #10.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Kim and Nicola averaged 19.1 places apart, ending at #78 and #10.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3333 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kim #382 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nicola in 55.
Highest recorded here: Kim #64 in 1992, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order changed in 2024: Kim moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #634 and #559; by 2024 that had become #736 and #898.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Nicola #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kim held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nicola in 28.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Kim moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #4192 and #2253; by 2025 that had become #3333 and #4201.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kim #3333, Nicola #4201.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1958–1985
Kim held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nicola in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kim #5 in 1968, Nicola #2 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kim #78, Nicola #10.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Kim
Pairs where Kim shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Adrian vs Kim
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adrian rose about as far as Kim fell — from #449 and #167 in 1958 to #62 and #370 in 2023.
Adrian · Kim · 61 shared years, 1958–2023 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Markus
Over 60 shared years in Norway · Boys, Markus rose about as far as Kim fell — from #201 and #406 in 1956 to #370 and #57 in 2023.
Kim · Markus · 60 shared years, 1956–2023 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Jonathan
Over 59 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Kim fell — from #167 and #428 in 1958 to #370 and #80 in 2023.
Kim · Jonathan · 59 shared years, 1958–2023 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Marcus
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Marcus rose about as far as Kim fell — from #205 and #399 in 1963 to #370 and #129 in 2023.
Kim · Marcus · 58 shared years, 1963–2023 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Nicola
Pairs where Nicola shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Poppy
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
Nicola · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Robyn
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #80 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #76.
Nicola · Robyn · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Kim | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3333 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3333 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