Abigail vs Orlaigh
Abigail and Orlaighcompared 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 2013, Abigail was ranked #44 and Orlaigh #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Abigail was ranked #54 and Orlaigh #894 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Abigail was ranked #134 and Orlaigh #5687 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Orlaigh over time
Abigail and Orlaigh appear together in 2 published lists, across 20 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Orlaigh in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Abigail held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Orlaigh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Orlaigh #254 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Abigail #44, Orlaigh #440.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1988–2013
Abigail held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Orlaigh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #45 in 2005, Orlaigh #457 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Abigail #54, Orlaigh #894.
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 | Orlaigh |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #5687 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 74/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Orlaigh.
- 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
Orlaigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1988
First recorded at #492 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2013
Highest recorded position: #254 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2013).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #5687 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls