Aoife vs Niamh
Aoife and Niamhcompared 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 2024, Aoife was ranked #4 and Niamh #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aoife was ranked #34 and Niamh #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Aoife was ranked #87 and Niamh #76 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Aoife was ranked #192 and Niamh #208 among girls in England and Wales.
Aoife and Niamh over time
Aoife and Niamh appear together in 3 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Aoife held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niamh in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Niamh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Aoife 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 2025, Aoife moved ahead of Niamh in England and Wales · Girls — #220 and #193 the year before became #192 and #208.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aoife and Niamh changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #34 and #90.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Aoife and Niamh averaged 11.6 places apart, ending at #4 and #47.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Aoife rose about as far as Niamh fell — from #436 and #120 in 1996 to #192 and #208 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Aoife and Niamh were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #192 and #208.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Aoife held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Niamh in 28.
Highest recorded here: Aoife #1 in 2000, Niamh #2 in 1993.
The order changed in 1997: Aoife moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #5 and #3; by 1997 that had become #2 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aoife #34, Niamh #90.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Aoife held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Niamh in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aoife #167 in 2015, Niamh #40 in 2000.
The order changed in 2025: Aoife moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #220 and #193; by 2025 that had become #192 and #208.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aoife #192, Niamh #208.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aoife held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Niamh in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aoife #4 in 2024, Niamh #5 in 2005.
The order changed in 2007: Aoife moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #14 and #12; by 2007 that had become #17 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aoife #4, Niamh #47.
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 | Aoife | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (mythological) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Neve, Níam |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #34 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Aoife does not have one recorded yet.
- Aoife has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niamh.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Aoife doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Aoife a "medium" Data Confidence level and Niamh a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aoife
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #206 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Niamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls