Laura vs Monica
Laura and Monicacompared 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, Laura was ranked #9 and Monica #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Laura was ranked #20 and Monica #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Laura was ranked #53 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Laura was ranked #103 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Laura was ranked #104 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Monica #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #351 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
Laura and Monica over time
Laura and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Monica in 1.
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.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Laura 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 1966, Laura moved ahead of Monica in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #122 and #68 the year before became #81 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laura and Monica changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2017, ending at #104 and #542.
- Mirrored each other
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Laura rose about as far as Monica fell — from #276 and #315 in 1946 to #104 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Monica were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #1229.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Monica #274 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1946–2017
Laura held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Monica in 42.
Highest recorded here: Laura #104 in 2017, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Laura #104, Monica #542.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Laura held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Monica in 2.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order changed in 1966: Laura moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #122 and #68; by 1966 that had become #81 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Laura #103, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Monica #1229.
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 | Laura | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Latin | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1229 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Laura is recorded with a Latin origin, while Monica is recorded with a Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) origin.
- Laura has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- Laura's recorded meaning differs from Monica's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Laura a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls