Namewise

Nicola vs Poppy

Nicola and Poppycompared 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 2025, Nicola was ranked #4201 and Poppy #7 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Nicola was ranked #790 and Poppy #24 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2020, Nicola was ranked #397 and Poppy #49 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Nicola was ranked #898 and Poppy #89 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Nicola and Poppy over time

Nicola and Poppy appear together in 3 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Poppy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nicola 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.

Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Poppy 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Nicola held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Poppy in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Poppy #5 in 2014.

    The order changed in 1998: Poppy moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #101 and #108; by 1998 that had become #118 and #98.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Poppy #7.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1990–2024

    Nicola held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Poppy in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Nicola #26 in 1990, Poppy #89 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2011: Poppy moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #184 and #200; by 2011 that had become #185 and #132.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #898, Poppy #89.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1998–2020

    Nicola held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Poppy in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Nicola #92 in 2000, Poppy #32 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2004: Poppy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #125 and #147; by 2004 that had become #212 and #183.

    Most recent shared year, 2020: Nicola #397, Poppy #49.

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 Nicola

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

Other comparisons involving Poppy

Pairs where Poppy 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

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

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Nicola, Poppy
FieldNicolaPoppy
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people).Taken directly from the English word for the red flower.
OriginGreek, feminine formEnglish, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver
Pronunciation/ˈnɪk.ə.lə//ˈpɒpi/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #7 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Nicola is recorded with a Greek, feminine form origin, while Poppy is recorded with a English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver origin.
  • Nicola has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Poppy.
  • Nicola's recorded meaning differs from Poppy's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Nicola

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1957

    First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1957–1996

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Poppy

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1990

    First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #7 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls