Barbara vs Orla
Barbara and Orlacompared 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 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Orla #58 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Orla #179 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Barbara and Orla over time
Barbara and Orla appear together in 2 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Orla held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barbara 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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Orla 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 1965, Orla moved ahead of Barbara in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #43 and #52 the year before became #45 and #39.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Orla rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #848 and #549 in 1996 to #2000 and #58 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Orla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #856 and #179.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #179.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Orla in 55.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Orla #22 in 1980.
The order changed in 1965: Orla moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #43 and #52; by 1965 that had become #45 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Orla #179.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Orla in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Orla #56 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Orla #58.
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 | Barbara | Orla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɔɹ.lə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Órlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #189 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Orla has a recorded origin (Irish); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Orla.
- A meaning is recorded for Orla; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Barbara a "medium" Data Confidence level and Orla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Orla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #52 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls