Aisling vs Freya
Aisling and Freyacompared 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, Aisling was ranked #2000 and Freya #7 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Aisling was ranked #418 and Freya #9 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aisling was ranked #180 and Freya #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Aisling and Freya over time
Aisling and Freya appear together in 3 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Freya held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Aisling in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Aisling reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Freya 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Freya moved into the top 50 at #38 in 2013 as Aisling fell out of it to #51, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Freya moved ahead of Aisling in Northern Ireland · Girls — #109 and #226 the year before became #121 and #101.
- Longest-running competitions
Aisling and Freya were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #180 and #25.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1987–2025
Aisling held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Freya in 13.
Highest recorded here: Aisling #9 in 1990, Freya #12 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Freya moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #42 and #49; by 2013 that had become #51 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aisling #180, Freya #25.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aisling held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Freya in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aisling #391 in 1998, Freya #5 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aisling #2000, Freya #7.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Aisling held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Freya in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aisling #67 in 2002, Freya #9 in 2022.
The order changed in 2006: Freya moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #109 and #226; by 2006 that had become #121 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Aisling #418, Freya #9.
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 | Aisling | Freya |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'lady' or 'noblewoman'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈfreɪə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Freyja, Freja |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #180 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Freya has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Aisling does not have one recorded yet.
- Aisling has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Freya.
- A meaning is recorded for Freya; Aisling doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Aisling a "medium" Data Confidence level and Freya a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aisling
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #154 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: #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #180 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Freya
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2024–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2024–2025).
Scotland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls