Harper vs Orlagh
Harper and Orlaghcompared 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, Harper was ranked #21 and Orlagh #176 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #22 and Orlagh #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #63 and Orlagh #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #84 and Orlagh #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Harper and Orlagh over time
Harper and Orlagh appear together in 3 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Harper held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Orlagh 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.
Orlagh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Harper 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 2013, Harper moved ahead of Orlagh in Northern Ireland · Girls — #297 and #229 the year before became #178 and #370.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Harper #22 in 2023, Orlagh #683 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 2001–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Orlagh in 4.
Highest recorded here: Harper #22 in 2023, Orlagh #683 in 2022.
The order changed in 2006: Harper moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #2682 and #1690; by 2006 that had become #2137 and #2781.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #22, Orlagh #1160.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2012–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Orlagh in 1.
Highest recorded here: Harper #38 in 2021, Orlagh #202 in 2016.
The order changed in 2013: Harper moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #297 and #229; by 2013 that had become #178 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #84, Orlagh #407.
Republic of Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2009–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Orlagh in 1.
Highest recorded here: Harper #53 in 2018, Orlagh #435 in 2012.
The order changed in 2012: Harper moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #893 and #539; by 2012 that had become #398 and #435.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #63, Orlagh #898.
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 Harper
Pairs where Harper shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harper vs Aurora
Harper and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Aurora · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Daisy
Harper and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Daisy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Poppy
Harper and Poppy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Poppy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Harper | Orlagh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #176 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 80/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harper has a recorded origin (English (occupational surname)); Orlagh does not have one recorded yet.
- Harper and Orlagh both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Harper; Orlagh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Orlagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #274 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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #89 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1160 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls