Molly vs Natasha
Molly and Natashacompared 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 2024, Molly was ranked #22 and Natasha #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Molly was ranked #31 and Natasha #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Molly was ranked #36 and Natasha #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Molly was ranked #44 and Natasha #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Molly was ranked #104 and Natasha #1262 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Molly was ranked #178 and Natasha #565 among girls in Norway.
Molly and Natasha over time
Molly and Natasha appear together in 6 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Natasha in 1.
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.
Natasha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 Northern Ireland · Girls, Molly moved into the top 50 at #45 in 1999 as Natasha fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Molly moved ahead of Natasha in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #62 and #61 the year before became #54 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Molly and Natasha were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1989 to 2024, ending at #22 and #736.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #29 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #104 and #1262.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1989–2024
Molly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Natasha in 9.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2021, Natasha #69 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Molly moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #87 and #78; by 1999 that had become #63 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #22, Natasha #736.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Molly held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Molly #15 in 2001, Natasha #33 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #104, Natasha #1262.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2019
Molly held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Natasha in 2.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2007, Natasha #34 in 1998.
The order changed in 1999: Molly moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #47 and #34; by 1999 that had become #45 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Molly #31, Natasha #336.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1996–2008
Molly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Natasha in 7.
Highest recorded here: Molly #32 in 2005, Natasha #28 in 1998.
The order changed in 2003: Molly moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #62 and #61; by 2003 that had become #54 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Molly #44, Natasha #79.
Norway · Girls10 shared years, 2003–2015
Molly held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Natasha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Molly #176 in 2012, Natasha #343 in 2007.
The order changed in 2008: Molly moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #409 and #343; by 2008 that had become #346 and #607.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Molly #178, Natasha #565.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2005
Molly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Natasha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Molly #31 in 2003, Natasha #37 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Molly moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #75 and #52; by 2000 that had become #49 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Molly #36, Natasha #82.
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 | Molly | Natasha |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Molly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Natasha.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Molly
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Natasha
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1971–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1262 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls