Namewise

Ella vs Orla

Ella 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.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Orla #19 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Orla #144 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Orla #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #46 and Orla #64 among girls in England and Wales.

Ella and Orla over time

Ella and Orla appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Orla 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.

Orla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Ella in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top

    In Northern Ireland · Girls, Ella moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2003 as Orla fell out of it to #54, having been #41 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2003, Ella moved ahead of Orla in Northern Ireland · Girls — #45 and #41 the year before became #28 and #54.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ella rose about as far as Orla fell — from #204 and #63 in 1997 to #12 and #144 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ella and Orla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #46 and #64.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Orla in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Orla #22 in 1980.

    The order changed in 2002: Ella moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #48 and #38; by 2002 that had become #28 and #40.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Orla #189.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Orla #56 in 2023.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #46, Orla #64.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Ella held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Orla in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Orla #33 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2003: Ella moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #45 and #41; by 2003 that had become #28 and #54.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Orla #144.

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.

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 — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern 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 Ella, Orla
FieldEllaOrla
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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.The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'.
OriginGermanic, diminutive formIrish
Pronunciation/ˈɛl.ə//ˈɔɹ.lə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedÓrlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #4 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #64 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Ella is recorded with a Germanic, diminutive form origin, while Orla is recorded with a Irish origin.
  • Ella and Orla both have 2 syllables.
  • Ella's recorded meaning differs from Orla's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Ella 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

Ella

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1993–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #46 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