Annabelle vs Layla
Annabelle and Laylacompared 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 2020, Annabelle was ranked #82 and Layla #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Annabelle was ranked #96 and Layla #41 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Annabelle was ranked #260 and Layla #41 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annabelle was ranked #146 and Layla #56 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annabelle was ranked #304 and Layla #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Annabelle was ranked #253 and Layla #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Annabelle and Layla over time
Annabelle and Layla appear together in 5 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Layla held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Annabelle in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Annabelle reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Layla 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 2003, Layla moved ahead of Annabelle in England and Wales · Girls — #162 and #179 the year before became #152 and #140.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Annabelle and Layla changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 2004 and 2020, ending at #82 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Annabelle and Layla averaged 50.8 places apart, ending at #146 and #56.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Annabelle #53 in 2014, Layla #29 in 2012.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annabelle held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Layla in 22.
Highest recorded here: Annabelle #53 in 2014, Layla #29 in 2012.
The order changed in 2003: Layla moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #162 and #179; by 2003 that had become #152 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annabelle #146, Layla #56.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1999–2025
Annabelle held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Layla in 24.
Highest recorded here: Annabelle #86 in 2015, Layla #44 in 2016.
The order changed in 2002: Layla moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #439 and #528; by 2002 that had become #512 and #312.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annabelle #304, Layla #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Annabelle held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Layla in 15.
Highest recorded here: Annabelle #81 in 2014, Layla #62 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annabelle #253, Layla #91.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2004–2020
Annabelle held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Layla in 13.
Highest recorded here: Annabelle #29 in 2014, Layla #24 in 2020.
The order changed in 2010: Layla moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #43 and #45; by 2010 that had become #37 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Annabelle #82, Layla #24.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2010–2020
Annabelle held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Layla in 7.
Highest recorded here: Annabelle #48 in 2012, Layla #34 in 2018.
The order changed in 2013: Layla moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #48 and #62; by 2013 that had become #63 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Annabelle #96, Layla #41.
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 | Annabelle | Layla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'night' in Arabic. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleɪlə/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #304 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Layla has a recorded origin (Arabic); Annabelle does not have one recorded yet.
- Annabelle has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Layla.
- A meaning is recorded for Layla; Annabelle doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Annabelle
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #523 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 recorded2000–2020
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 2000–2020).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #492 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Layla
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls