Aisling vs Orla
Aisling and Orlacompared 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 Orla #58 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Aisling was ranked #418 and Orla #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aisling was ranked #180 and Orla #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Aisling and Orla over time
Aisling and Orla appear together in 3 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Orla 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 2 of those lists, Orla 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Aisling moved ahead of Orla in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #31 and #29 the year before became #31 and #37.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Aisling and Orla averaged 31.4 places apart, ending at #180 and #189.
- Longest-running competitions
Aisling and Orla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #180 and #189.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Aisling #60 in 1998, Orla #33 in 2000.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #70 and #63 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2022 they were #418 and #127.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Aisling held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Orla in 18.
Highest recorded here: Aisling #8 in 1991, Orla #22 in 1980.
The order changed in 1983: Aisling moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #31 and #29; by 1983 that had become #31 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aisling #180, Orla #189.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aisling held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Orla in 27.
Highest recorded here: Aisling #391 in 1998, Orla #56 in 2023.
The order changed in 1999: Orla moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #391 and #414; by 1999 that had become #410 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aisling #2000, Orla #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Aisling held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Orla in 26.
Highest recorded here: Aisling #60 in 1998, Orla #33 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Aisling #418, Orla #127.
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 | Orla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɔɹ.lə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Órlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #180 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #189 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Orla has a recorded origin (Irish); Aisling does not have one recorded yet.
- Aisling and Orla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Orla; 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 Orla 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
Orla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #52 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls