Clodagh vs Nell
Clodagh and Nellcompared 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, Clodagh was ranked #20 and Nell #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Clodagh was ranked #47 and Nell #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Clodagh was ranked #431 and Nell #230 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Clodagh was ranked #1036 and Nell #400 among girls in England and Wales.
Clodagh and Nell over time
Clodagh and Nell appear together in 3 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Clodagh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nell in 1.
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.
Clodagh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Nell 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Clodagh held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nell in 26.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #897 in 1997, Nell #263 in 2022.
The order changed in 1999: Nell moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #925 and #1259; by 1999 that had become #1216 and #1060.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Clodagh #1036, Nell #400.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1964–2025
Clodagh held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #34 in 2009, Nell #114 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Clodagh #47, Nell #115.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2006–2024
Clodagh held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #20 in 2024, Nell #253 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Clodagh #20, Nell #253.
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 | Clodagh | Nell |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A 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 |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkloʊdə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #47 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #115 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 74/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Clodagh has a recorded origin (Irish); Nell does not have one recorded yet.
- Clodagh has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Nell.
- A meaning is recorded for Clodagh; Nell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Clodagh
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Nell
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #257 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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #114 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls