Alyssa vs Iona

Alyssa and Ionacompared 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, Alyssa was ranked #171 and Iona #83 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alyssa was ranked #237 and Iona #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #285 and Iona #451 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alyssa was ranked #325 and Iona #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Alyssa and Iona over time

Alyssa and Iona appear together in 3 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Alyssa held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Iona 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.

Iona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alyssa 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.

Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alyssa and Iona changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2001 and 2023, ending at #237 and #237.
Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Alyssa rose about as far as Iona fell — from #783 and #293 in 1996 to #285 and #451 in 2024.

List by list

England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alyssa held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Iona in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #144 in 2004, Iona #199 in 2000.
The order changed in 2001: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #344 and #199; by 2001 that had become #262 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alyssa #285, Iona #451.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2001–2023
Alyssa held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Iona in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #137 in 2016, Iona #168 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alyssa #237, Iona #237.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2000–2025
Alyssa held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Iona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #172 in 2015, Iona #314 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alyssa #325, Iona #544.

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 Alyssa

Pairs where Alyssa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Chloe vs Alyssa
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Chloe #1 in 2006, Alyssa #25 in 2004.
Chloe · Alyssa · 23 shared years, 1990–2019 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2006 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Emma vs Alyssa
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Alyssa #37 in 2003.
Emma · Alyssa · 15 shared years, 1999–2013 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2003 New Zealand ranking
Lara vs Alyssa
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lara and Alyssa averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #68 and #75.
Lara · Alyssa · 21 shared years, 1999–2019 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2019 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Madison vs Alyssa
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Madison and Alyssa averaged 12.8 places apart, ending at #89 and #82.
Madison · Alyssa · 20 shared years, 1999–2018 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2018 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alyssa, Iona
Field	Alyssa	Iona
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	3	2
Common variants / nicknames	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Recorded regional usage	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025)	Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	88/100	95/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Alyssa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Iona.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Alyssa

Popularity journey

First recorded1990
First recorded at #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2019
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls

Iona

Popularity journey

First recorded1988
First recorded at #492 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1988 — 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 #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls