Angela vs Dearbhla
Angela and Dearbhlacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Angela was ranked #391 and Dearbhla #328 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Dearbhla #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2014, Angela was ranked #516 and Dearbhla #5691 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Dearbhla over time
Angela and Dearbhla appear together in 2 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Angela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Dearbhla 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
Angela and Dearbhla changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #608 and #483.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Dearbhla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #608 and #483.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Angela #248 in 2000, Dearbhla #90 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1969–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Dearbhla in 24.
Highest recorded here: Angela #35 in 1970, Dearbhla #126 in 1999.
The order changed in 2025: Dearbhla moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #372 and #898; by 2025 that had become #608 and #483.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Dearbhla #483.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2023
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dearbhla in 14.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Dearbhla #90 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Angela #391, Dearbhla #328.
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 Angela
Pairs where Angela shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Maria vs Angela
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #24 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #608.
Maria · Angela · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Angela
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #24 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #608.
Nora · Angela · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Angela vs Ellen
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #27 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #166.
Angela · Ellen · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Angela vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2019 they were #551 and #871.
Angela · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Angela | Dearbhla |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #483 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Angela has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Dearbhla.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Dearbhla
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #322 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #90 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls