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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Poppy moved ahead of Nicola in England and Wales · Girls — #101 and #108 the year before became #118 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Poppy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4201 and #7.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Nicola | Poppy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | Taken directly from the English word for the red flower. |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | /ˈpɒpi/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #7 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Poppy
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #7 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls