Namewise

Amelia vs Ashleigh

Amelia and Ashleighcompared 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 2025, Amelia was ranked #3 and Ashleigh #2788 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2016, Amelia was ranked #7 and Ashleigh #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2021, Amelia was ranked #11 and Ashleigh #764 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2005, Amelia was ranked #16 and Ashleigh #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2005, Amelia was ranked #20 and Ashleigh #72 among girls in New Zealand.

Amelia and Ashleigh over time

Amelia and Ashleigh appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ashleigh in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Ashleigh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Amelia 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1997, Amelia moved ahead of Ashleigh in England and Wales · Girls — #63 and #58 the year before became #49 and #68.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Amelia and Ashleigh changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1971 and 2021, ending at #11 and #764.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amelia and Ashleigh averaged 49.7 places apart, ending at #20 and #72.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 35 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Ashleigh fell — from #466 and #417 in 1971 to #11 and #764 in 2021.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Amelia and Ashleigh were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 50 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #2788.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #63 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #2788.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls50 shared years, 1996–2025

    Amelia held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Ashleigh in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Ashleigh #58 in 1996.

    The order changed in 1997: Amelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #63 and #58; by 1997 that had become #49 and #68.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #3, Ashleigh #2788.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1971–2021

    Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Ashleigh in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Ashleigh #162 in 1995.

    The order changed in 2000: Amelia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #322 and #322; by 2000 that had become #269 and #303.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Amelia #11, Ashleigh #764.

  • New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1986–2005

    Amelia held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ashleigh in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #20 in 2005, Ashleigh #8 in 1992.

    The order changed in 2002: Amelia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #42 and #40; by 2002 that had become #30 and #39.

    Most recent shared year, 2005: Amelia #20, Ashleigh #72.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1985–2005

    Amelia held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ashleigh in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #16 in 2005, Ashleigh #13 in 1993.

    The order changed in 2001: Amelia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #45 and #38; by 2001 that had become #34 and #50.

    Most recent shared year, 2005: Amelia #16, Ashleigh #87.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2016

    Amelia held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ashleigh in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Ashleigh #87 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2003: Amelia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #286 and #162; by 2003 that had become #156 and #248.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Amelia #7, Ashleigh #440.

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 Amelia

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

Other comparisons involving Ashleigh

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Amelia, Ashleigh
FieldAmeliaAshleigh
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia.Not yet recorded
OriginLatin (influence)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/əˈmiːliə/Not yet recorded
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesAmelie, Amalia, Amy, MiaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationUnited Kingdom #1 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10053/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Ashleigh does not have one recorded yet.
  • Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ashleigh.
  • A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Ashleigh doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Ashleigh a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Amelia

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #300 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Ashleigh

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1971

    First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1986–2005

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2005).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls