Agnes vs Isla
Agnes and Islacompared 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, Agnes was ranked #476 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Agnes was ranked #474 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Agnes was ranked #353 and Isla #12 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Agnes was ranked #736 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Agnes and Isla over time
Agnes and Isla appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Agnes 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Agnes #334 in 2015, Isla #3 in 2014.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Agnes held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Isla in 29.
Highest recorded here: Agnes #334 in 2015, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Agnes #474, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1979–2024
Agnes held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Isla in 14.
Highest recorded here: Agnes #268 in 1980, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #268 and #432; by 2008 that had become #862 and #230.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Agnes #736, Isla #13.
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 | Agnes | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Islay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #49 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Agnes does not have one recorded yet.
- Agnes and Isla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Agnes doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Agnes a "medium" Data Confidence level and Isla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Agnes
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #128 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: #39 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls