Amelia vs Orla
Amelia and Orlacompared 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 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Orla #58 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Orla #19 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Orla #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Orla #144 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Amelia and Orla over time
Amelia and Orla appear together in 4 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Orla in 1.
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.
Orla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Amelia in 1. 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 2008, Amelia moved ahead of Orla in Northern Ireland · Girls — #84 and #70 the year before became #61 and #65.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in Scotland · Girls, Amelia and Orla averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #7 and #19.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Orla fell — from #358 and #63 in 1997 to #14 and #144 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Orla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 46 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #58.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Orla #19 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Orla in 37.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Orla #22 in 1992.
The order changed in 2007: Amelia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #74 and #52; by 2007 that had become #48 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Orla #189.
England and Wales · Girls46 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Orla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Orla #56 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Orla #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Orla in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Orla #33 in 2000.
The order changed in 2008: Amelia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #84 and #70; by 2008 that had become #61 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Orla #144.
Scotland · Girls23 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Orla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Orla #19 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Orla #19.
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 | Orla |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈɔɹ.lə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Órlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #189 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Orla is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Orla.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Orla's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Orla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #52 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls