Nicola vs Stacey
Nicola and Staceycompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1992, Nicola was ranked #63 and Stacey #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Nicola was ranked #91 and Stacey #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Nicola was ranked #268 and Stacey #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #898 and Stacey #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #4201 and Stacey #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Nicola and Stacey over time
Nicola and Stacey appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Stacey in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Stacey 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Nicola and Stacey averaged 25.7 places apart, ending at #91 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Stacey were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4201 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicola #87 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #2138.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1977–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Stacey #39 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #898, Stacey #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Stacey in 2.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Stacey moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #2253 and #3015; by 2025 that had become #4201 and #2138.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Stacey #2138.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1973–1996
Nicola held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stacey in 9.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #2 in 1975, Stacey #15 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Nicola #91, Stacey #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2012
Nicola held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Stacey in 2.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Stacey #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Nicola #268, Stacey #451.
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 | Stacey |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| 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 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2138 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Stacey does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicola has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stacey.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Stacey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Stacey
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #99 among girls in New Zealand in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1973–1996
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1973–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls