Namewise

Molly vs Rachel

Molly and Rachelcompared 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, Molly was ranked #20 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Molly was ranked #27 and Rachel #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2006, Molly was ranked #35 and Rachel #98 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2007, Molly was ranked #55 and Rachel #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Molly was ranked #68 and Rachel #431 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Molly was ranked #104 and Rachel #377 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2024, Molly was ranked #203 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.

Molly and Rachel over time

Molly and Rachel appear together in 6 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rachel in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Rachel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Molly 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Molly moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2004 as Rachel fell out of it to #55, having been #44 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1997, Molly moved ahead of Rachel in England and Wales · Girls — #29 and #27 the year before became #21 and #28.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Molly and Rachel averaged 51.1 places apart, ending at #27 and #142.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Molly and Rachel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #20 and #186.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Molly #167 in 2011, Rachel #369 in 2013.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #29 and #27 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #104 and #377.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025

    Molly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Rachel in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2019, Rachel #6 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2011: Molly moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #31 and #29; by 2011 that had become #33 and #39.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #20, Rachel #186.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Molly held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Rachel in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #15 in 2001, Rachel #27 in 1996.

    The order changed in 1997: Molly moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #29 and #27; by 1997 that had become #21 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #104, Rachel #377.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023

    Molly held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachel in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2007, Rachel #7 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2006: Molly moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #23 and #15; by 2006 that had become #21 and #27.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Molly #27, Rachel #142.

  • Norway · Girls16 shared years, 2003–2024

    Molly held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rachel in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #167 in 2011, Rachel #369 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2006: Molly moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #588 and #544; by 2006 that had become #395 and #423.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #203, Rachel #472.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1996–2007

    Molly held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Rachel in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #32 in 2005, Rachel #20 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2004: Molly moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #54 and #44; by 2004 that had become #35 and #55.

    Most recent shared year, 2007: Molly #55, Rachel #71.

  • New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2006

    Molly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Rachel in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #31 in 2003, Rachel #26 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2001: Molly moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #49 and #43; by 2001 that had become #36 and #66.

    Most recent shared year, 2006: Molly #35, Rachel #98.

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 Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Rachel

Pairs where Rachel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Molly, Rachel
FieldMollyRachel
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedCommonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel
Pronunciation/ˈreɪtʃəl/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Molly and Rachel both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Rachel

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1951

    First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1965–2006

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls