Monica vs Salma
Monica and Salmacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Monica was ranked #542 and Salma #228 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Monica was ranked #1449 and Salma #722 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Monica was ranked #727 and Salma #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Monica was ranked #790 and Salma #790 among girls in Scotland.
Monica and Salma over time
Monica and Salma appear together in 3 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Monica held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Salma 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.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Salma 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Monica and Salma were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 35 years, from 1953 to 2017, ending at #542 and #228.
List by list
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1953–2017
Monica held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Salma in 11.
Highest recorded here: Monica #3 in 1975, Salma #228 in 2017.
The order changed in 2004: Salma moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #428 and #474; by 2004 that had become #388 and #304.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Monica #542, Salma #228.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Monica held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Salma in 25.
Highest recorded here: Monica #274 in 1997, Salma #295 in 2003.
The order changed in 2001: Salma moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #344 and #375; by 2001 that had become #405 and #389.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Monica #1449, Salma #722.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2001–2023
Monica held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Salma in 3.
Highest recorded here: Monica #315 in 2001, Salma #471 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Monica #727, Salma #727.
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 | Salma |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) | Norway · Girls #416 (2025) |
| 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)); Salma does not have one recorded yet.
- Monica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Salma.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Salma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Monica a "high" Data Confidence level and Salma 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
Salma
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #433 among girls in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2025
Highest recorded position: #228 among girls in Norway, in 2017 (recorded 1953–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #416 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls