Nova vs Petra
Nova and Petracompared 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 2024, Nova was ranked #80 and Petra #1097 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Nova was ranked #119 and Petra #120 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Nova was ranked #364 and Petra #625 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Nova and Petra over time
Nova and Petra appear together in 2 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Nova held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Petra 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 · Girls23 shared years, 2000–2024
Nova held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Petra in 11.
Highest recorded here: Nova #80 in 2024, Petra #897 in 2019.
The order changed in 2013: Nova moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #1720 and #1184; by 2013 that had become #1128 and #1291.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nova #80, Petra #1097.
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 2006–2025
Nova held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Petra in 7.
Highest recorded here: Nova #88 in 2022, Petra #120 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nova #119, Petra #120.
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 | Petra |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #119 (2025) | Norway · Girls #120 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nova and Petra both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
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
Petra
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #193 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #120 among girls in Norway, in 2025 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls