Amelia vs Isla
Amelia and Isla compared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #2 and Isla #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Amelia was ranked #2 and Isla #3 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #3 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Isla #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Amelia and Isla over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Amelia and Isla over time
Amelia and Isla appear together in 5 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Isla 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.
Amelia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Isla 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 2019, Isla moved ahead of Amelia in Northern Ireland · Girls — #6 and #7 the year before became #8 and #4.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Isla changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 2004 and 2023, ending at #2 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amelia and Isla averaged 13.2 places apart, ending at #2 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Isla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #4.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #1 in 2019, Isla #1 in 2020.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Isla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #3, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1979–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Isla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Isla #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Isla in 7.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2019: Isla moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #6 and #7; by 2019 that had become #8 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Isla #8.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2023
Amelia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Isla in 9.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2019, Isla #1 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amelia #2, Isla #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 2008–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Isla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2020, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #2, Isla #4.
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.
- Amelia vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #2788.
Amelia · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1079.
Amelia · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Caitlin
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #66 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1028.
Amelia · Caitlin · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Ellen
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #63 in England and Wales · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1028.
Amelia · Ellen · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Isla
Pairs where Isla shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Isla vs Arabella
Isla and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Isla · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Isla vs Ada
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Ada #35 in 2023.
Isla · Ada · 11 shared years, 2013–2024 · Peaked in the same years
- Isla vs Alice
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2020, Alice #31 in 2018.
Isla · Alice · 20 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Isla vs Annie
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Annie #8 in 2022.
Isla · Annie · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Amelia | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈaɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Islay |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #2 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Isla.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Isla's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls