Ella vs Fidelma
Ella and Fidelmacompared 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 1995, Ella was ranked #242 and Fidelma #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ella and Fidelma over time
Ella and Fidelma appear together in 1 published list, across 15 years of shared records. Fidelma held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Ella in 0.
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.
Fidelma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Ella 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ella and Fidelma changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1970 and 1995, ending at #242 and #352.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1970–1995
Ella held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Fidelma in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ella #234 in 1993, Fidelma #160 in 1970.
The order changed in 1993: Ella moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #456 and #417; by 1993 that had become #234 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Ella #242, Fidelma #352.
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 Ella
Pairs where Ella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #1894.
Ella · Courtney · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #1819.
Ella · Ashleigh · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #1541.
Ella · Gemma · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #1302.
Ella · Kate · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ella | Fidelma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (1995) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Fidelma does not have one recorded yet.
- Ella has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Fidelma.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Fidelma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in IE.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Fidelma
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #125 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
Highest recorded1964–1995
Highest recorded position: #116 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–1995).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent1995
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1995.
Republic of Ireland · Girls