Penny vs Rosa
Penny and Rosacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Penny was ranked #134 and Rosa #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Penny was ranked #193 and Rosa #94 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Penny was ranked #138 and Rosa #108 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Penny was ranked #156 and Rosa #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Penny and Rosa over time
Penny and Rosa appear together in 3 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Rosa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Penny 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.
Rosa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Penny 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 2017, Rosa moved ahead of Penny in England and Wales · Girls — #178 and #189 the year before became #176 and #172.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Penny and Rosa changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #193 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Penny #82 in 2022, Rosa #197 in 2020.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Penny held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Rosa in 25.
Highest recorded here: Penny #166 in 2020, Rosa #94 in 2024.
The order changed in 2017: Rosa moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #178 and #189; by 2017 that had become #176 and #172.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Penny #193, Rosa #94.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2025
Penny held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Rosa in 5.
Highest recorded here: Penny #82 in 2022, Rosa #197 in 2020.
The order changed in 2010: Penny moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #410 and #284; by 2010 that had become #276 and #395.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Penny #156, Rosa #226.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2009–2024
Penny held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rosa in 11.
Highest recorded here: Penny #67 in 2022, Rosa #53 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Penny #134, Rosa #75.
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 | Penny | Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #156 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #226 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Penny and Rosa both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Penny
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2009–2024
Highest recorded position: #67 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2009–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #156 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Rosa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #334 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2024
Highest recorded position: #53 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2015 (recorded 2001–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls