Namewise

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 2025, Barbara was ranked #2440 and Orla #64 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 86 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Barbara and Orla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2440 and #64.

  • 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 · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Orla in 30.

    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, 2025: Barbara #2440, Orla #64.

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 Barbara

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

Other comparisons involving Orla

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

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 Barbara, Orla
FieldBarbaraOrla
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
Pronunciation/ˈɔɹ.lə/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedÓrlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #64 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1971

    Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Orla

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls