Namewise

Faye vs Layla

Faye and Laylacompared 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, Faye was ranked #196 and Layla #41 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Faye was ranked #304 and Layla #56 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Faye was ranked #80 and Layla #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Faye was ranked #67 and Layla #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.

Faye and Layla over time

Faye and Layla appear together in 3 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Faye held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Layla in 1.

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.

Faye reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Layla 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 2005, Layla moved ahead of Faye in England and Wales · Girls — #134 and #140 the year before became #135 and #97.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Faye and Layla changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #67 and #91.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Faye and Layla averaged 58.3 places apart, ending at #67 and #91.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Faye and Layla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #80 and #60.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 19832025

    Faye held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Layla in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Faye #43 in 2012, Layla #44 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2025: Layla moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #68 and #69; by 2025 that had become #80 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Faye #80, Layla #60.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Faye held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Layla in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Faye #105 in 2002, Layla #29 in 2012.

    The order changed in 2005: Layla moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #134 and #140; by 2005 that had become #135 and #97.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Faye #304, Layla #56.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 20042024

    Faye held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Layla in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Faye #48 in 2013, Layla #62 in 2019.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Faye #67, Layla #91.

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.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Faye, Layla
FieldFayeLayla
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedMeans 'night' in Arabic.
OriginNot yet recordedArabic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈleɪlə/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #80 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Layla has a recorded origin (Arabic); Faye does not have one recorded yet.
  • Faye has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Layla.
  • A meaning is recorded for Layla; Faye doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Faye

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1975

    First recorded at #503 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1975–2025

    Highest recorded position: #43 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2012 (recorded 1975–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #80 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Layla

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1983

    First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded2004–2025

    Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls