Elizabeth vs Isabel
Elizabeth and Isabelcompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2020, Elizabeth was ranked #58 and Isabel #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #62 and Isabel #169 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Elizabeth was ranked #70 and Isabel #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #76 and Isabel #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #87 and Isabel #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #113 and Isabel #431 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #484 and Isabel #240 among girls in Norway.
Elizabeth and Isabel over time
Elizabeth and Isabel appear together in 6 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Isabel 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.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Isabel 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 1988, Isabel moved ahead of Elizabeth in Norway · Girls — #250 and #262 the year before became #208 and #177.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elizabeth and Isabel changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 2024, ending at #484 and #240.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Elizabeth and Isabel averaged 49.1 places apart, ending at #62 and #169.
- Longest-running competitions
Elizabeth and Isabel were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 65 years, from 1953 to 2024, ending at #484 and #240.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #32 in 2008, Isabel #56 in 2008.
List by list
Norway · Girls65 shared years, 1953–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Isabel in 39.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #154 in 1968, Isabel #81 in 2006.
The order changed in 1988: Isabel moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #250 and #262; by 1988 that had become #208 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #484, Isabel #240.
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1965–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Isabel in 2.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #6 in 1965, Isabel #59 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #76, Isabel #127.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Isabel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Isabel #45 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #62, Isabel #169.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2001–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Isabel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #64 in 2005, Isabel #180 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #87, Isabel #253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 2006–2020
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Isabel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #32 in 2008, Isabel #56 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Elizabeth #58, Isabel #94.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 2004–2020
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Isabel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #34 in 2009, Isabel #64 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Elizabeth #70, Isabel #90.
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 Elizabeth
Pairs where Elizabeth shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elizabeth vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #62 and #1262.
Elizabeth · Natasha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #62 and #1230.
Elizabeth · Chelsea · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #62 and #934.
Elizabeth · Danielle · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #91 and #896.
Elizabeth · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Elizabeth | Isabel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From the Greek Elisabet, from Hebrew Elisheva, combining 'el' (God) with 'shava' ('oath') — 'my God is an oath'. Appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, Aaron's wife, and in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #76 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #127 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elizabeth has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Isabel does not have one recorded yet.
- Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Isabel.
- A meaning is recorded for Elizabeth; Isabel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Elizabeth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #341 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Isabel
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #422 among girls in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #320 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls