Amelia vs Dearbhail
Amelia and Dearbhailcompared 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 2011, Amelia was ranked #32 and Dearbhail #937 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Amelia was ranked #84 and Dearbhail #413 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Amelia and Dearbhail over time
Amelia and Dearbhail appear together in 2 published lists, across 30 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dearbhail 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.
Dearbhail reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Dearbhail changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1970 and 2011, ending at #32 and #937.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Dearbhail fell — from #447 and #396 in 1970 to #32 and #937 in 2011.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1970–2011
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Dearbhail in 6.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2011, Dearbhail #344 in 1988.
The order changed in 1999: Amelia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #576 and #363; by 1999 that had become #322 and #528.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Amelia #32, Dearbhail #937.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2007
Amelia held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Dearbhail in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #84 in 2007, Dearbhail #220 in 2000.
The order changed in 2001: Amelia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #220 and #220; by 2001 that had become #206 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Amelia #84, Dearbhail #413.
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 | Amelia | Dearbhail |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #937 (2011) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Dearbhail does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Dearbhail.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Dearbhail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Dearbhail 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
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
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Dearbhail
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #396 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2007
Highest recorded position: #174 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2007).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2011
Most recently recorded at #937 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2011.
Republic of Ireland · Girls