Namewise

Mercy vs Mila

Mercy and Milacompared 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.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Mercy was ranked #980 and Mila #46 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Mercy was ranked #747 and Mila #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Mercy and Mila over time

Mercy and Mila appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Mila held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mercy 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.

Mercy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Mila 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Mercy held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Mila in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Mercy #806 in 2009, Mila #35 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2003: Mila moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #1245 and #1442; by 2003 that had become #2191 and #799.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Mercy #980, Mila #46.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 20022022

    Mercy held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mila in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Mercy #370 in 2004, Mila #58 in 2022.

    The order changed in 2008: Mila moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #549 and #842; by 2008 that had become #862 and #597.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Mercy #747, Mila #58.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Mercy, Mila
FieldMercyMila
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedCommonly interpreted as 'gracious, dear', from the Slavic element milu. Originally used as a short form of longer names containing that element before becoming an independent given name.
OriginNot yet recordedSlavic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈmi.ɫa/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #980 (2024)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #21 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)60/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Mila has a recorded origin (Slavic); Mercy does not have one recorded yet.
  • Mercy and Mila both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Mila; Mercy doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.

How each name got here

Mercy

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #1522 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Girls

  2. Highest recorded2001–2022

    Highest recorded position: #333 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 2001–2022).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #980 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls

Mila

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1981

    First recorded at #653 among girls in Norway in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded2010–2023

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2010–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls