Ebony vs Saoirse
Ebony and Saoirsecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ebony was ranked #856 and Saoirse #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Ebony was ranked #424 and Saoirse #41 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ebony was ranked #872 and Saoirse #402 among girls in England and Wales.
Ebony and Saoirse over time
Ebony and Saoirse appear together in 3 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Saoirse held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ebony in 1.
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.
Ebony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Saoirse 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ebony and Saoirse were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #402.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ebony held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Saoirse in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ebony #106 in 2005, Saoirse #307 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #377 and #392; by 2020 that had become #505 and #307.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ebony #872, Saoirse #402.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2019
Ebony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Saoirse in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ebony #193 in 2005, Saoirse #41 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Ebony #424, Saoirse #41.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1993–2023
Ebony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Saoirse in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ebony #352 in 2002, Saoirse #18 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ebony #856, Saoirse #27.
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 Saoirse
Pairs where Saoirse shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ciara vs Saoirse
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #63 and #417 in 1971 to #106 and #17 in 2025.
Ciara · Saoirse · 52 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Saoirse vs Ellen
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Ellen fell — from #417 and #70 in 1971 to #17 and #166 in 2025.
Saoirse · Ellen · 52 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Natalie vs Saoirse
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Natalie fell — from #234 and #417 in 1971 to #381 and #17 in 2025.
Natalie · Saoirse · 52 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Nicole vs Saoirse
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Nicole fell — from #220 and #417 in 1971 to #381 and #17 in 2025.
Nicole · Saoirse · 52 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Ebony | Saoirse |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #872 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Saoirse has a recorded origin (Irish); Ebony does not have one recorded yet.
- Ebony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Saoirse.
- A meaning is recorded for Saoirse; Ebony doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Ebony
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2006
Highest recorded position: #56 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1993–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Saoirse
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls