Namewise

Clodagh vs Marilyn

Clodagh and Marilyncompared 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 2015, Clodagh was ranked #48 and Marilyn #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Clodagh was ranked #54 and Marilyn #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Clodagh was ranked #1036 and Marilyn #1541 among girls in England and Wales.

Clodagh and Marilyn over time

Clodagh and Marilyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Clodagh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marilyn in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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

    Clodagh and Marilyn changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #1541.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 19962024

    Clodagh held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Marilyn in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Clodagh #925 in 1998, Marilyn #1541 in 2024.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Clodagh #1036, Marilyn #1541.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 19692023

    Clodagh held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Marilyn in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Clodagh #45 in 2018, Marilyn #326 in 1971.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Clodagh #54, Marilyn #856.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Clodagh, Marilyn
FieldClodaghMarilyn
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA place-derived name, taken from the River Clodiagh in County Waterford, rather than from a traditional Irish word root. Popularised as a personal name by Clodagh Beresford (1879-1957), daughter of the Marquess of Waterford.Not yet recorded
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkloʊdə/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #47 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #1541 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)74/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Clodagh has a recorded origin (Irish); Marilyn does not have one recorded yet.
  • Clodagh has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Marilyn.
  • A meaning is recorded for Clodagh; Marilyn doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Clodagh

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #149 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 recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Marilyn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1952–1956

    Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1956).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1541 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls