Colleen vs Eabha
Colleen and Eabhacompared 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 2023, Colleen was ranked #391 and Eabha #15 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Colleen was ranked #718 and Eabha #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Colleen was ranked #4763 and Eabha #4096 among girls in England and Wales.
Colleen and Eabha over time
Colleen and Eabha appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Eabha held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Colleen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Colleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Eabha 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Eabha moved ahead of Colleen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #138 and #193 the year before became #219 and #145.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1990–2025
Colleen held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Eabha in 20.
Highest recorded here: Colleen #197 in 1992, Eabha #50 in 2017.
The order changed in 1999: Eabha moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #222 and #241; by 1999 that had become #392 and #220.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colleen #718, Eabha #413.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2001–2023
Colleen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Eabha in 11.
Highest recorded here: Colleen #122 in 2004, Eabha #15 in 2023.
The order changed in 2006: Eabha moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #138 and #193; by 2006 that had become #219 and #145.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Colleen #391, Eabha #15.
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 | Colleen | Eabha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally treated as the Irish form of the name Eve, carrying the same underlying sense of 'life' or 'living one'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈeːwə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Eabha has a recorded origin (Irish); Colleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Colleen and Eabha both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Eabha; Colleen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Colleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #41 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
Highest recorded1952–1966
Highest recorded position: #41 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1966).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Eabha
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2024
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2001–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls