Abigail vs Dearbhla
Abigail and Dearbhlacompared 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 2014, Abigail was ranked #46 and Dearbhla #5691 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Dearbhla #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Dearbhla #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Abigail and Dearbhla over time
Abigail and Dearbhla appear together in 2 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dearbhla in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Dearbhla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Abigail 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Dearbhla changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #115 and #483.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Abigail rose about as far as Dearbhla fell — from #303 and #322 in 1969 to #115 and #483 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Dearbhla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #115 and #483.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Dearbhla in 19.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Dearbhla #126 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Dearbhla #483.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Dearbhla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Dearbhla #90 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Dearbhla #253.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Abigail
Pairs where Abigail shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #171.
Shannon · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #171.
Danielle · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jade vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #747 and #171.
Jade · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Abigail
In 1997 they stood at #66 and #72 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #48.
Fiona · Abigail · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Dearbhla |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #483 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Dearbhla.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Dearbhla
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #322 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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #90 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls