Molly vs Phoebe
Molly and Phoebecompared 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, Molly was ranked #104 and Phoebe #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Molly was ranked #20 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Molly was ranked #28 and Phoebe #30 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Molly was ranked #68 and Phoebe #46 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Molly was ranked #69 and Phoebe #56 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Molly was ranked #100 and Phoebe #72 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Molly and Phoebe over time
Molly and Phoebe appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Phoebe in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Phoebe in 1. 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 2008, Phoebe moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #30 and #31 the year before became #32 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Molly and Phoebe changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1997 and 2023, ending at #69 and #56.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Molly and Phoebe averaged 27.7 places apart, ending at #104 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Molly and Phoebe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #20 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Molly #32 in 2005, Phoebe #39 in 2004.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1989–2025
Molly held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Phoebe in 0.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2019, Phoebe #78 in 2022.
The order changed in 1992: Molly moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #408 and #408; by 1992 that had become #188 and #322.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #20, Phoebe #97.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Molly held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Phoebe in 17.
Highest recorded here: Molly #15 in 2001, Phoebe #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #30 and #31; by 2008 that had become #32 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #104, Phoebe #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Molly held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Phoebe in 0.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2007, Phoebe #30 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #28, Phoebe #30.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023
Molly held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Phoebe in 8.
Highest recorded here: Molly #31 in 2003, Phoebe #45 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Molly #69, Phoebe #56.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2021
Molly held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Phoebe in 9.
Highest recorded here: Molly #32 in 2005, Phoebe #39 in 2004.
The order changed in 2012: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #53 and #61; by 2012 that had become #61 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Molly #100, Phoebe #72.
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 | Phoebe |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #65 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Molly and Phoebe both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Phoebe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — 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: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls