Mila vs Penny
Mila and Pennycompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Mila was ranked #30 and Penny #138 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Mila was ranked #46 and Penny #193 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Mila was ranked #80 and Penny #156 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Mila was ranked #150 and Penny #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Mila and Penny over time
Mila and Penny appear together in 3 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Mila held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Penny in 1.
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
Mila and Penny changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2011 and 2024, ending at #150 and #134.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Mila #58 in 2022, Penny #82 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mila held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Penny in 13.
Highest recorded here: Mila #35 in 2023, Penny #166 in 2020.
The order changed in 2011: Mila moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #616 and #396; by 2011 that had become #261 and #398.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mila #46, Penny #193.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2025
Mila held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Penny in 6.
Highest recorded here: Mila #58 in 2022, Penny #82 in 2022.
The order changed in 2011: Mila moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #555 and #276; by 2011 that had become #240 and #325.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mila #80, Penny #156.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2011–2024
Mila held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Penny in 9.
Highest recorded here: Mila #72 in 2018, Penny #67 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mila #150, Penny #134.
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 Mila
Pairs where Mila shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mila vs Aurora
Mila and Aurora both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Aurora · 33 shared years, 1982–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mila vs Daisy
Mila and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mila vs Elsie
Mila and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Elsie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Freya vs Mila
Freya and Mila both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Mila · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Mila | Penny |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Slavic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmi.ɫa/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #21 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #156 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Mila has a recorded origin (Slavic); Penny does not have one recorded yet.
- Mila and Penny both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Mila; Penny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Mila
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Penny
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2009–2024
Highest recorded position: #67 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2009–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #156 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls