Hailey vs Niamh
Hailey and Niamhcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hailey was ranked #134 and Niamh #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hailey was ranked #176 and Niamh #76 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hailey was ranked #79 and Niamh #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Hailey was ranked #395 and Niamh #193 among girls in England and Wales.
Hailey and Niamh over time
Hailey and Niamh appear together in 3 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Hailey 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.
Niamh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Hailey 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 2024, Hailey moved ahead of Niamh in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #73 and #73 the year before became #89 and #94.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Hailey rose about as far as Niamh fell — from #1222 and #120 in 1996 to #395 and #193 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hailey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 29.
Highest recorded here: Hailey #373 in 2023, Niamh #40 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hailey #395, Niamh #193.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1983–2025
Hailey held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Niamh in 25.
Highest recorded here: Hailey #73 in 2023, Niamh #2 in 1993.
The order changed in 2024: Hailey moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #73 and #73; by 2024 that had become #89 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hailey #79, Niamh #90.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2024
Hailey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 15.
Highest recorded here: Hailey #108 in 2021, Niamh #18 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hailey #134, Niamh #47.
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
| Field | Hailey | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (mythological) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Neve, Níam |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #79 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Hailey does not have one recorded yet.
- Hailey has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niamh.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Hailey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Hailey a "medium" Data Confidence level and Niamh a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Hailey
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1983–2025
Highest recorded position: #73 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1983–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Niamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls