Monica vs Selma
Monica and Selmacompared 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 Selma #16 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Monica was ranked #896 and Selma #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Monica was ranked #1449 and Selma #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Monica and Selma over time
Monica and Selma appear together in 2 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Monica held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Selma in 0.
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 2 of those lists, and Selma 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Selma moved ahead of Monica in Norway · Girls — #135 and #159 the year before became #156 and #152.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Girls, Selma rose about as far as Monica fell — from #247 and #315 in 1947 to #542 and #16 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Monica and Selma were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1947 to 2017, ending at #542 and #16.
List by list
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1947–2017
Monica held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Selma in 19.
Highest recorded here: Monica #3 in 1972, Selma #16 in 2017.
The order changed in 1997: Selma moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #135 and #159; by 1997 that had become #156 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Monica #542, Selma #16.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Monica held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Selma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Monica #274 in 1997, Selma #1082 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Monica #1449, Selma #2000.
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 | Monica | Selma |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) | Norway · Girls #11 (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)); Selma does not have one recorded yet.
- Monica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Selma.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Selma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Monica a "high" Data Confidence level and Selma 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
Selma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #352 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2024 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls