Namewise

Arabella vs Matilda

Arabella and Matildacompared 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 Matilda #19 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Arabella was ranked #88 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Arabella was ranked #57 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Arabella was ranked #93 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Arabella was ranked #96 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Arabella and Matilda over time

Arabella and Matilda appear together in 3 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Matilda held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Arabella in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Matilda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Arabella 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 2024, Arabella moved ahead of Matilda in Northern Ireland · Girls — #135 and #102 the year before became #93 and #110.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Arabella and Matilda changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #93 and #110.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Arabella and Matilda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #22 and #19.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Arabella #22 in 2025, Matilda #19 in 2025.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 19962025

    Arabella held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Matilda in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Arabella #22 in 2025, Matilda #19 in 2025.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #22, Matilda #19.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 20042025

    Arabella held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Matilda in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Arabella #96 in 2025, Matilda #97 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2023: Arabella moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #142 and #128; by 2023 that had become #114 and #122.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #96, Matilda #106.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 20042024

    Arabella held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Matilda in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Arabella #84 in 2020, Matilda #91 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2024: Arabella moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #135 and #102; by 2024 that had become #93 and #110.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Arabella #93, Matilda #110.

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 Arabella

Pairs where Arabella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

  • Ada vs Arabella

    Ada and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Ada · Arabella · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Arabella

    Amelia and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Arabella · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Aria vs Arabella

    Aria and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Aria · Arabella · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Aurora vs Arabella

    Aurora and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Aurora · Arabella · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

Other comparisons involving Matilda

Pairs where Matilda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

  • Matilda vs Layla

    Matilda and Layla both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Matilda · Layla · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Mia vs Matilda

    Mia and Matilda both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Mia · Matilda · 31 shared years, 19872025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Charlotte vs Matilda

    Charlotte and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Charlotte · Matilda · 33 shared years, 19652025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Matilda vs Daisy

    Matilda and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Matilda · Daisy · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 19462025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 19592025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 19732025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 19722025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Arabella, Matilda
FieldArabellaMatilda
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedCommonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'.
OriginNot yet recordedGermanic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/məˈtɪldə/
Syllables43
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedTilly, Mathilde
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #22 (2025)United Kingdom #8 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Matilda has a recorded origin (Germanic); Arabella does not have one recorded yet.
  • Arabella has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
  • A meaning is recorded for Matilda; 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 Matilda 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Matilda

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1965

    First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded2004–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls