Denise vs Orla
Denise and Orlacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Denise was ranked #4843 and Orla #58 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Denise was ranked #426 and Orla #92 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Denise was ranked #834 and Orla #160 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Denise and Orla over time
Denise and Orla appear together in 2 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Orla held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Denise in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Denise and Orla changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2020, ending at #834 and #160.
- Longest-running competitions
Denise and Orla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2020, ending at #834 and #160.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Denise #31 in 1981, Orla #22 in 1980.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #56 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2020 they were #834 and #160.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2020
Denise held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Orla in 47.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1981, Orla #22 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Denise #834, Orla #160.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Denise held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Orla in 29.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Orla #56 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denise #4843, Orla #58.
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 | Denise | Orla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɔɹ.lə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Órlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #189 (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
- Orla has a recorded origin (Irish); Denise does not have one recorded yet.
- Denise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Orla.
- A meaning is recorded for Orla; Denise doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Denise a "medium" Data Confidence level and Orla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Denise
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #24 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 recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Orla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #52 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls