Nicola vs Rey
Nicola and Reycompared 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 Rey #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #5137 and Rey #2952 among boys in England and Wales.
Nicola and Rey over time
Nicola and Rey appear together in 2 published lists, across 19 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 1 of those lists, and Rey 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls10 shared years, 2016–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Rey in 2.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #485 in 2016, Rey #1449 in 2020.
The order changed in 2023: Rey moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1282 and #1767; by 2023 that had become #2689 and #2201.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Rey #2440.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 2005–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Rey in 6.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #3013 in 2019, Rey #1869 in 2019.
The order changed in 2013: Rey moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #3300 and #3830; by 2013 that had become #3822 and #3822.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #5137, Rey #2952.
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 | Rey |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Rey does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicola has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Rey.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Rey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR.
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
Rey
Popularity journey
First recorded2005
First recorded at #3849 among boys in England and Wales in 2005 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls