Betty vs Iris
Betty and Iriscompared 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, Betty was ranked #360 and Iris #61 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Betty was ranked #790 and Iris #138 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Betty was ranked #718 and Iris #141 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2000, Betty was ranked #582 and Iris #196 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Betty was ranked #354 and Iris #218 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Betty and Iris over time
Betty and Iris appear together in 3 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Iris held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Betty 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.
Betty reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Iris 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Betty and Iris changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2000, ending at #582 and #196.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Betty held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Iris in 26.
Highest recorded here: Betty #349 in 2015, Iris #61 in 2023.
The order changed in 2000: Iris moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #1393 and #1473; by 2000 that had become #1688 and #1195.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Betty #360, Iris #61.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1945–2000
Betty held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Iris in 20.
Highest recorded here: Betty #200 in 1956, Iris #143 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Betty #582, Iris #196.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2008–2025
Betty held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Iris in 9.
Highest recorded here: Betty #586 in 2021, Iris #141 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Betty #718, Iris #141.
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 | Betty | Iris |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Norway · Girls #100 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Betty and Iris both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Betty
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #322 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2000
Highest recorded position: #200 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2000).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Iris
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #239 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #61 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #100 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls