Namewise

Elaine vs Orla

Elaine 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2003, Elaine was ranked #331 and Orla #54 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Elaine was ranked #1133 and Orla #64 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Elaine was ranked #608 and Orla #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Elaine and Orla over time

Elaine and Orla appear together in 2 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Orla held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elaine 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Elaine and Orla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1133 and #64.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Elaine #6 in 1982, Orla #22 in 1980.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #58 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #189.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025

    Elaine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Orla in 36.

    Highest recorded here: Elaine #6 in 1982, Orla #22 in 1980.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Elaine #608, Orla #189.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Elaine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Orla in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Elaine #823 in 1996, Orla #56 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Elaine #1133, Orla #64.

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 Elaine

Pairs where Elaine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Orla

Pairs where Orla shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Elaine, Orla
FieldElaineOrla
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
Pronunciation/ˈɔɹ.lə/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedÓrlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #64 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Orla has a recorded origin (Irish); Elaine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Elaine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Orla.
  • A meaning is recorded for Orla; Elaine doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Elaine 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

Elaine

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #71 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1133 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Orla

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls