Bethany vs Isla
Bethany and Islacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #384 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #539 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #253 and Isla #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bethany was ranked #544 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bethany and Isla over time
Bethany and Isla appear together in 3 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bethany in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bethany reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Isla 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Isla moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2008 as Bethany fell out of it to #55, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Isla moved ahead of Bethany in England and Wales · Girls — #50 and #65 the year before became #55 and #36.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Isla in 17.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #11 in 1999, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #50 and #65; by 2008 that had become #55 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #539, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025
Bethany held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Isla in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #197 in 2002, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #307 and #404; by 2008 that had become #341 and #230.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bethany #544, Isla #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Isla in 16.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #46 in 2005, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #61 and #95; by 2009 that had become #70 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #253, Isla #8.
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 | Bethany | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈaɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Islay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (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
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Bethany does not have one recorded yet.
- Bethany has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Isla.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Bethany doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Bethany a "medium" Data Confidence level and Isla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Bethany
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls