Courtney vs Niamh
Courtney 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2000, Courtney was ranked #17 and Niamh #94 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Courtney was ranked #432 and Niamh #18 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Courtney was ranked #727 and Niamh #73 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Courtney was ranked #2278 and Niamh #208 among girls in England and Wales.
Courtney and Niamh over time
Courtney and Niamh appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Courtney 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.
Courtney 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 #50 in 2005 as Courtney fell out of it to #58, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Niamh moved ahead of Courtney in England and Wales · Girls — #46 and #48 the year before became #58 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Courtney and Niamh were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #208.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Courtney #17 in 1998, Niamh #40 in 2000.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #12 and #11 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #18.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Courtney held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Niamh in 21.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #17 in 1998, Niamh #40 in 2000.
The order changed in 2005: Niamh moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #46 and #48; by 2005 that had become #58 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Courtney #2278, Niamh #208.
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1988–2023
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #43 in 1998, Niamh #2 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Courtney #727, Niamh #73.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 21.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #12 in 1997, Niamh #5 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Courtney #432, Niamh #18.
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 | Courtney | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally 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. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (mythological) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Neve, Níam |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
- Courtney has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niamh.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Courtney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Courtney 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
Courtney
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1985–2006
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Niamh
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls