Ailbhe vs Willow
Ailbhe and Willowcompared 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 2024, Ailbhe was ranked #1819 and Willow #21 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ailbhe was ranked #790 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ailbhe was ranked #97 and Willow #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ailbhe was ranked #50 and Willow #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ailbhe and Willow over time
Ailbhe and Willow appear together in 3 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Willow held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ailbhe in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Willow reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Ailbhe 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ailbhe and Willow changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2003 and 2025, ending at #50 and #58.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ailbhe #1692 in 2021, Willow #9 in 2023.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Ailbhe held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Willow in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ailbhe #44 in 2023, Willow #29 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ailbhe #50, Willow #58.
England and Wales · Girls17 shared years, 1996–2024
Ailbhe held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Willow in 17.
Highest recorded here: Ailbhe #1692 in 2021, Willow #9 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ailbhe #1819, Willow #21.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2007–2024
Ailbhe held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Willow in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ailbhe #97 in 2024, Willow #24 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ailbhe #97, Willow #44.
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 | Ailbhe | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English, a modern nature name from the willow tree |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪl.oʊ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #50 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Willow has a recorded origin (English, a modern nature name from the willow tree); Ailbhe does not have one recorded yet.
- Ailbhe and Willow both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Willow; Ailbhe doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Ailbhe
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #44 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Willow
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #891 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 2020 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls