Abigail vs Daphne
Abigail and Daphnecompared 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, Abigail was ranked #102 and Daphne #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Daphne #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Daphne #150 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Daphne over time
Abigail and Daphne appear together in 2 published lists, across 49 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Daphne 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.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Abigail rose about as far as Daphne fell — from #303 and #265 in 1969 to #115 and #413 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Daphne in 1.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Daphne #150 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Daphne #150.
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Daphne in 3.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #62 in 2017, Daphne #265 in 1969.
The order changed in 1986: Abigail moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #370 and #352; by 1986 that had become #356 and #458.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Daphne #413.
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 | Abigail | Daphne |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Daphne.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Daphne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #150 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls