Monica vs Nuala
Monica and Nualacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2000, Monica was ranked #348 and Nuala #348 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Monica was ranked #790 and Nuala #431 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Monica was ranked #727 and Nuala #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Monica was ranked #1449 and Nuala #1036 among girls in England and Wales.
Monica and Nuala over time
Monica and Nuala appear together in 2 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Nuala 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Monica and Nuala changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #727 and #856.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Monica and Nuala averaged 48.3 places apart, ending at #727 and #856.
- Longest-running competitions
Monica and Nuala were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #727 and #856.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Monica #68 in 1965, Nuala #71 in 1965.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2023
Monica held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nuala in 24.
Highest recorded here: Monica #68 in 1965, Nuala #71 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Monica #727, Nuala #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Monica held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nuala in 8.
Highest recorded here: Monica #274 in 1997, Nuala #860 in 2015.
The order changed in 2017: Nuala moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #881 and #1057; by 2017 that had become #968 and #949.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Monica #1449, Nuala #1036.
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 Monica
Pairs where Monica shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Monica
In 1964 they stood at #68 and #70 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2023 they were #316 and #727.
Jennifer · Monica · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Claire
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #75 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #339.
Monica · Claire · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Monica
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Monica fell — from #46 and #315 in 1946 to #9 and #542 in 2017.
Anna · Monica · 69 shared years, 1946–2017 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Monica | Nuala |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Monika, Mona | 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 | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) | Scotland · Girls #431 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Nuala does not have one recorded yet.
- Monica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Nuala.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Nuala doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Monica a "high" Data Confidence level and Nuala a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Nuala
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #71 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1036 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls