Namewise

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.

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.

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 Robyn

Pairs where Robyn 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, Robyn
FieldNicolaRobyn
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people).A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert.
OriginGreek, feminine formGermanic, feminine diminutive form
Pronunciation/ˈnɪk.ə.lə//ˈɹɑb.ɪn/
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)Republic of Ireland · Girls #19 (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 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

  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

Robyn

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1974

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #76 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls