Arabella vs Elsie
Arabella and Elsiecompared 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 2025, Arabella was ranked #22 and Elsie #8 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Arabella was ranked #93 and Elsie #27 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Arabella was ranked #57 and Elsie #31 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Arabella was ranked #96 and Elsie #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Arabella was ranked #88 and Elsie #74 among girls in New Zealand.
Arabella and Elsie over time
Arabella and Elsie appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Elsie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Arabella 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.
Arabella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Elsie 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Arabella and Elsie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #22 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Arabella #22 in 2025, Elsie #8 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Arabella held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Elsie in 22.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #22 in 2025, Elsie #8 in 2025.
The order changed in 2003: Elsie moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #493 and #513; by 2003 that had become #427 and #408.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #22, Elsie #8.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2025
Arabella held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elsie in 18.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #96 in 2025, Elsie #55 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #96, Elsie #55.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2011–2024
Arabella held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elsie in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #84 in 2020, Elsie #27 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arabella #93, Elsie #27.
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 | Arabella | Elsie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the root meaning of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath', inherited via the Scots form Elspeth. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish, via Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛlsi/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Elspeth |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #22 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Elsie has a recorded origin (Scottish, via Elizabeth); Arabella does not have one recorded yet.
- Arabella has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Elsie.
- A meaning is recorded for Elsie; Arabella doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arabella a "medium" Data Confidence level and Elsie a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Arabella
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #519 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Elsie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #301 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls