Nova vs Paisley
Nova and Paisleycompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nova was ranked #59 and Paisley #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nova was ranked #80 and Paisley #234 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nova was ranked #101 and Paisley #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Nova was ranked #180 and Paisley #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nova was ranked #1758 and Paisley #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Nova and Paisley over time
Nova and Paisley appear together in 3 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Nova held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Paisley in 1.
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.
Paisley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Nova 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 2020, Nova moved ahead of Paisley in England and Wales · Girls — #186 and #152 the year before became #144 and #146.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 2000–2024
Nova held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paisley in 18.
Highest recorded here: Nova #80 in 2024, Paisley #146 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Nova moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #186 and #152; by 2020 that had become #144 and #146.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nova #80, Paisley #234.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2016–2025
Nova held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Paisley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nova #171 in 2024, Paisley #296 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nova #180, Paisley #718.
England and Wales · Boys8 shared years, 2014–2024
Nova held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paisley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nova #1084 in 2022, Paisley #2512 in 2017.
The order changed in 2015: Nova moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #4632 and #4632; by 2015 that had become #2150 and #4747.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nova #1758, Paisley #4270.
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 | Nova | Paisley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #119 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nova and Paisley both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Nova
Popularity journey
First recorded2000
First recorded at #3912 among girls in England and Wales in 2000 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Paisley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #608 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #146 among girls in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls