Namewise

Ava vs Isabelle

Ava and Isabellecompared 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Ava was ranked #8 and Isabelle #55 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #9 and Isabelle #52 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Isabelle #207 among girls in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2025, Ava was ranked #18 and Isabelle #58 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Isabelle #34 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Isabelle #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Ava was ranked #143 and Isabelle #293 among girls in Norway.

Ava and Isabelle over time

Ava and Isabelle appear together in 6 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Isabelle in 1.

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.

Isabelle reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Ava 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 2009, Ava moved ahead of Isabelle in England and Wales · Girls — #21 and #17 the year before became #12 and #17.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava and Isabelle averaged 26.6 places apart, ending at #18 and #58.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ava and Isabelle were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1981 to 2025, ending at #26 and #34.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Ava #5 in 2017, Isabelle #27 in 2015.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 19812025

    Ava held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Isabelle in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Isabelle #26 in 2010.

    The order changed in 1998: Ava moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #213 and #176; by 1998 that had become #88 and #159.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Isabelle #34.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ava held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Isabelle in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Isabelle #17 in 2008.

    The order changed in 2009: Ava moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #21 and #17; by 2009 that had become #12 and #17.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #9, Isabelle #52.

  • Norway · Girls26 shared years, 19992025

    Ava held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Isabelle in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #104 in 2020, Isabelle #133 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2015: Ava moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #199 and #171; by 2015 that had become #147 and #153.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #143, Isabelle #293.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 20032025

    Ava held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Isabelle in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2017, Isabelle #27 in 2009.

    The order changed in 2004: Ava moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #80 and #52; by 2004 that had become #57 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #18, Isabelle #58.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 20032024

    Ava held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Isabelle in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Isabelle #109 in 2012.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Isabelle #227.

  • New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 20032023

    Ava held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Isabelle in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ava #5 in 2017, Isabelle #27 in 2015.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Ava #8, Isabelle #55.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ava, Isabelle
FieldAvaIsabelle
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningMeaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence.Not yet recorded
OriginDisputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of EveNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪvə/
Syllables24
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #18 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #34 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ava has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve); Isabelle does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ava has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Isabelle.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ava; Isabelle doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Ava

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1978

    First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1978–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Isabelle

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1962

    First recorded at #454 among girls in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #58 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls