Namewise

Chelsea vs Niamh

Chelsea and Niamhcompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Chelsea was ranked #407 and Niamh #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2000, Chelsea was ranked #55 and Niamh #94 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Chelsea was ranked #608 and Niamh #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Chelsea was ranked #983 and Niamh #208 among girls in England and Wales.

Chelsea and Niamh over time

Chelsea and Niamh appear together in 3 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Chelsea 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.

Chelsea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Niamh 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 took the other's place near the top

    In England and Wales · Girls, Niamh moved into the top 50 at #40 in 2000 as Chelsea fell out of it to #51, having been #43 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2000, Niamh moved ahead of Chelsea in England and Wales · Girls — #43 and #47 the year before became #51 and #40.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Chelsea and Niamh were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #983 and #208.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1989–2025

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #54 in 1999, Niamh #2 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Chelsea #608, Niamh #90.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Niamh in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #34 in 1996, Niamh #40 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2000: Niamh moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #43 and #47; by 2000 that had become #51 and #40.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Chelsea #983, Niamh #208.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2024

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #35 in 1998, Niamh #5 in 2005.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Chelsea #407, Niamh #47.

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 Chelsea

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

Other comparisons involving Niamh

Pairs where Niamh 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 — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

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 Chelsea, Niamh
FieldChelseaNiamh
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTraditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish (mythological)
Pronunciation/ˈnʲiːvˠ/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNeve, Níam
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Chelsea does not have one recorded yet.
  • Chelsea has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niamh.
  • A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Chelsea doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Chelsea a "medium" Data Confidence level and Niamh a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Chelsea

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1987

    First recorded at #65 among girls in New Zealand in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1987–2008

    Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1994 (recorded 1987–2008).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #983 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Niamh

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #109 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. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls