Alma vs Hayley
Alma and Hayleycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Hayley #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #211 and Hayley #478 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alma was ranked #315 and Hayley #230 among girls in Scotland.
Alma and Hayley over time
Alma and Hayley appear together in 2 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Hayley held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alma in 0.
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.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alma and Hayley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #211 and #478.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1968–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Hayley in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alma #204 in 1978, Hayley #48 in 1997.
The order changed in 1987: Hayley moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #250 and #305; by 1987 that had become #242 and #242.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #226, Hayley #148.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Hayley in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alma #211 in 2025, Hayley #57 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Alma moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #529 and #516; by 2017 that had become #413 and #683.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #211, Hayley #478.
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 Alma
Pairs where Alma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Heidi vs Alma
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #188 and #293 in 1945 to #437 and #8 in 2025.
Heidi · Alma · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Kristin
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #293 and #130 in 1945 to #8 and #251 in 2025.
Alma · Kristin · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Solveig
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #293 and #14 in 1945 to #8 and #28 in 2025.
Alma · Solveig · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Hanne
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Hanne fell — from #293 and #123 in 1945 to #8 and #318 in 2025.
Alma · Hanne · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Hayley
Pairs where Hayley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ashleigh vs Hayley
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #57 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #2788 and #478.
Ashleigh · Hayley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Courtney vs Hayley
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #57 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #2278 and #478.
Courtney · Hayley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caitlin vs Hayley
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #57 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #478.
Caitlin · Hayley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alma | Hayley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alma and Hayley both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #293 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: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #211 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #478 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls