Nicola vs Robyn
Nicola and Robyncompared 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 1975, Nicola was ranked #2 and Robyn #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #898 and Robyn #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #790 and Robyn #48 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Nicola was ranked #397 and Robyn #74 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #4201 and Robyn #76 among girls in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #5137 and Robyn #2952 among boys in England and Wales.
Nicola and Robyn over time
Nicola and Robyn appear together in 4 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Robyn held the stronger position in more years in 3 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, Robyn in 1. 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 1965, Nicola moved ahead of Robyn in New Zealand · Girls — #30 and #19 the year before became #19 and #25.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Robyn were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4201 and #76.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #80 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #76.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1982–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Robyn in 24.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Robyn #23 in 2015.
The order changed in 1999: Robyn moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #62 and #69; by 1999 that had become #74 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #898, Robyn #27.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 30.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Robyn #64 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Robyn #76.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Nicola held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robyn in 19.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Robyn #63 in 2000.
The order changed in 2004: Robyn moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #125 and #147; by 2004 that had become #212 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Nicola #397, Robyn #74.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1957–1975
Nicola held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Robyn in 8.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #2 in 1975, Robyn #8 in 1957.
The order changed in 1965: Nicola moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #30 and #19; by 1965 that had become #19 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Nicola #2, Robyn #80.
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 | Robyn |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert. |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Germanic, feminine diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | /ˈɹɑb.ɪn/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #19 (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 Robyn is recorded with a Germanic, feminine diminutive form origin.
- Nicola has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robyn.
- Nicola's recorded meaning differs from Robyn'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
Robyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls