Anya vs Isla
Anya and Islacompared 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, Anya was ranked #391 and Isla #1 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anya was ranked #384 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anya was ranked #315 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anya was ranked #443 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Anya and Isla over time
Anya and Isla appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anya 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.
Anya reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 2006, Isla moved ahead of Anya in England and Wales · Girls — #123 and #125 the year before became #142 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Anya #316 in 2023, Isla #11 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anya held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Isla in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anya #123 in 2005, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #123 and #125; by 2006 that had become #142 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anya #315, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2002–2025
Anya held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Isla in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anya #316 in 2023, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anya #443, Isla #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2005–2023
Anya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Isla in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anya #284 in 2013, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anya #391, Isla #1.
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 | Anya | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈaɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Islay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Anya does not have one recorded yet.
- Anya and Isla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Anya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Anya a "medium" Data Confidence level and Isla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anya
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #393 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #123 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls