Eabha vs Gillian
Eabha and Gilliancompared 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 2001, Eabha was ranked #343 and Gillian #293 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Eabha was ranked #339 and Gillian #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Eabha was ranked #1315 and Gillian #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Eabha and Gillian over time
Eabha and Gillian appear together in 2 published lists, across 36 years of shared records. Eabha held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gillian 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.
Gillian 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 2001, Eabha moved ahead of Gillian in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #151 and #151 the year before became #152 and #187.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1990–2023
Eabha held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Gillian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Eabha #52 in 2015, Gillian #60 in 1990.
The order changed in 2001: Eabha moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #151 and #151; by 2001 that had become #152 and #187.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Eabha #339, Gillian #856.
England and Wales · Girls16 shared years, 2004–2025
Eabha held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gillian in 2.
Highest recorded here: Eabha #1069 in 2021, Gillian #1617 in 2004.
The order changed in 2017: Eabha moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #4096 and #4096; by 2017 that had become #2201 and #2925.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eabha #1315, Gillian #4201.
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 Eabha
Pairs where Eabha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Isla vs Eabha
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Eabha #13 in 2024.
Isla · Eabha · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
- Isabella vs Eabha
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Eabha moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2020 as Isabella fell out of it to #51, having been #27 the year before.
Isabella · Eabha · 23 shared years, 2001–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
- Eabha vs Phoebe
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Eabha moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2020 as Phoebe fell out of it to #74, having been #47 the year before.
Eabha · Phoebe · 23 shared years, 2001–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sarah vs Eabha
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Eabha moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2020 as Sarah fell out of it to #60, having been #37 the year before.
Sarah · Eabha · 23 shared years, 2001–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
Side by side
| Field | Eabha | Gillian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally treated as the Irish form of the name Eve, carrying the same underlying sense of 'life' or 'living one'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeːwə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Eabha has a recorded origin (Irish); Gillian does not have one recorded yet.
- Eabha and Gillian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Eabha; Gillian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
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 #1315 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Gillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls