Lia vs May
Lia and Maycompared 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, Lia was ranked #196 and May #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Lia was ranked #432 and May #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lia was ranked #491 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Lia and May over time
Lia and May appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Lia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, May 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.
Lia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and May 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 2025, Lia moved ahead of May in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #372 and #342 the year before became #196 and #718.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lia and May changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1982 and 2025, ending at #196 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Lia #177 in 2021, May #262 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, May in 7.
Highest recorded here: Lia #283 in 2002, May #325 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lia #491, May #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1982–2025
Lia held the stronger position in 25 of those years, May in 1.
Highest recorded here: Lia #177 in 2021, May #262 in 2023.
The order changed in 2025: Lia moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #372 and #342; by 2025 that had become #196 and #718.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lia #196, May #718.
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 | Lia | May |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #196 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lia and May both have 1 syllable.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Lia
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #428 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 recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #177 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #196 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls