Namewise

Courtney vs Ella

Courtney and Ellacompared 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.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2006, Courtney was ranked #96 and Ella #2 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Courtney was ranked #432 and Ella #7 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2004, Courtney was ranked #94 and Ella #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Courtney was ranked #727 and Ella #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Courtney was ranked #2278 and Ella #46 among girls in England and Wales.

Courtney and Ella over time

Courtney and Ella appear together in 4 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Courtney in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Courtney reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ella 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 2001, Ella moved ahead of Courtney in England and Wales · Girls — #22 and #27 the year before became #29 and #19.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Courtney and Ella changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1988 and 2023, ending at #727 and #10.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ella rose about as far as Courtney fell — from #407 and #381 in 1988 to #727 and #10 in 2023.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Courtney and Ella were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #46.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #52 and #56 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #2278 and #46.

List by list

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

    Courtney held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ella in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Courtney #17 in 1998, Ella #6 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2001: Ella moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #22 and #27; by 2001 that had become #29 and #19.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Courtney #2278, Ella #46.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1988–2023

    Courtney held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ella in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Courtney #43 in 1998, Ella #3 in 2007.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Courtney #727, Ella #10.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017

    Courtney held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ella in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Courtney #12 in 1997, Ella #2 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2003: Ella moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #35 and #45; by 2003 that had become #37 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Courtney #432, Ella #7.

  • New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1993–2006

    Courtney held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ella in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Courtney #8 in 1996, Ella #2 in 2006.

    The order changed in 1999: Ella moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #13 and #19; by 1999 that had become #17 and #12.

    Most recent shared year, 2006: Courtney #96, Ella #2.

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 Courtney

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

Other comparisons involving Ella

Pairs where Ella 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

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 Courtney, Ella
FieldCourtneyElla
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English.
OriginNot yet recordedGermanic, diminutive form
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈɛl.ə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025)Norway · Girls #4 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
  • Courtney and Ella both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ella; Courtney doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Courtney

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1984

    First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1985–2006

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Ella

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1993–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #46 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls