Namewise

Lauren vs Molly

Lauren 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Lauren was ranked #118 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Lauren was ranked #264 and Molly #27 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2012, Lauren was ranked #93 and Molly #40 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2012, Lauren was ranked #97 and Molly #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Lauren was ranked #638 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Lauren was ranked #1166 and Molly #120 among girls in England and Wales.

Lauren and Molly over time

Lauren and Molly appear together in 5 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lauren in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Lauren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Molly 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, Molly moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2008 as Lauren fell out of it to #59, having been #45 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2004, Molly moved ahead of Lauren in England and Wales · Girls — #17 and #18 the year before became #23 and #21.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Molly rose about as far as Lauren fell — from #75 and #408 in 1989 to #118 and #20 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Lauren and Molly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1166 and #120.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025

    Lauren held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Molly in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Lauren #6 in 2001, Molly #18 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2017: Molly moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #25 and #27; by 2017 that had become #36 and #32.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Lauren #118, Molly #20.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Lauren held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Molly in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Lauren #5 in 1996, Molly #15 in 2001.

    The order changed in 2004: Molly moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #17 and #18; by 2004 that had become #23 and #21.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Lauren #1166, Molly #120.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023

    Lauren held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Molly in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Lauren #2 in 2001, Molly #18 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2005: Molly moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #22 and #25; by 2005 that had become #24 and #23.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Lauren #264, Molly #27.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1996–2012

    Lauren held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Molly in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Lauren #6 in 1996, Molly #32 in 2005.

    The order changed in 2008: Molly moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #45 and #55; by 2008 that had become #59 and #44.

    Most recent shared year, 2012: Lauren #97, Molly #61.

  • New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2012

    Lauren held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Molly in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Lauren #27 in 1997, Molly #31 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2003: Molly moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #37 and #38; by 2003 that had become #55 and #31.

    Most recent shared year, 2012: Lauren #93, Molly #40.

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 Lauren

Pairs where Lauren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Lauren, Molly
FieldLaurenMolly
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA variant/feminine form of Laurence, tracing to the place name Laurentum. First popularized as a feminine name by actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Jean Perske).Not yet recorded
OriginLatin (place name origin), via a modern stage-nameNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈlɔɹ.ən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #118 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Lauren has a recorded origin (Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Lauren and Molly both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Lauren; 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

Lauren

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1971

    First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1997–2023

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1166 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls