Namewise

Ellen vs Saoirse

Ellen 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 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Saoirse #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Saoirse #37 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Saoirse #196 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Saoirse #443 among girls in England and Wales.

Ellen and Saoirse over time

Ellen and Saoirse appear together in 3 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Saoirse in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Ellen 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2015, Saoirse moved ahead of Ellen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #60 and #106 the year before became #90 and #88.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Ellen fell — from #70 and #417 in 1971 to #166 and #17 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ellen and Saoirse were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 52 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #166 and #17.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1971–2025

    Ellen held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Saoirse in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Saoirse #12 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2006: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #30 and #36; by 2006 that had become #34 and #29.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Saoirse #17.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Ellen held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Saoirse in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Saoirse #307 in 2020.

    The order changed in 2016: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #384 and #549; by 2016 that had become #475 and #387.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Saoirse #443.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Ellen held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Saoirse in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Saoirse #37 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2015: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #60 and #106; by 2015 that had become #90 and #88.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Saoirse #37.

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 Ellen

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

Other comparisons involving Saoirse

Pairs where Saoirse 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 — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

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 Ellen, Saoirse
FieldEllenSaoirse
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedMeans 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
Pronunciation/ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Saoirse has a recorded origin (Irish); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ellen and Saoirse both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Saoirse; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Ellen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #29 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 recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Saoirse

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1971–2025

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1971–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls