Daphne vs Isla
Daphne and Islacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Daphne was ranked #476 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Daphne was ranked #150 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Daphne was ranked #413 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Daphne and Isla over time
Daphne and Isla appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Daphne 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.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Isla moved ahead of Daphne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #352 and #432 the year before became #873 and #40.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daphne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Isla in 29.
Highest recorded here: Daphne #150 in 2024, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daphne #150, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1979–2025
Daphne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Isla in 8.
Highest recorded here: Daphne #352 in 1980, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order changed in 2017: Isla moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #352 and #432; by 2017 that had become #873 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daphne #413, Isla #13.
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 | Daphne | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈaɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Islay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Daphne does not have one recorded yet.
- Daphne and Isla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Daphne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Daphne a "medium" Data Confidence level and Isla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Daphne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #150 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls