Nicola vs Rebecca
Nicola and Rebeccacompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Nicola was ranked #91 and Rebecca #10 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Nicola was ranked #93 and Rebecca #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #898 and Rebecca #156 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Nicola was ranked #397 and Rebecca #192 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #4201 and Rebecca #413 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #790 and Rebecca #431 among girls in Scotland.
Nicola and Rebecca over time
Nicola and Rebecca appear together in 4 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Rebecca held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nicola in 0.
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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Rebecca 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 1977, Rebecca moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #4 and #2.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Nicola and Rebecca averaged 27.0 places apart, ending at #91 and #10.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Rebecca were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4201 and #413.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicola #87 in 1996, Rebecca #8 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Rebecca in 34.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Rebecca #7 in 1995.
The order changed in 1989: Rebecca moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #21 and #30; by 1989 that had become #23 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #898, Rebecca #156.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1966–1996
Nicola held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rebecca in 20.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #2 in 1975, Rebecca #2 in 1977.
The order changed in 1977: Rebecca moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #2 and #5; by 1977 that had become #4 and #2.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Nicola #91, Rebecca #10.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rebecca in 30.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Rebecca #8 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Rebecca #413.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Nicola held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rebecca in 21.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Rebecca #2 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Nicola #397, Rebecca #192.
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 | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together. |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | /rəˈbɛkə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| 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 Rebecca is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka origin.
- Nicola and Rebecca both have 3 syllables.
- Nicola's recorded meaning differs from Rebecca'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
Rebecca
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #440 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2008
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1966–2008).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls