Harriet vs Layla
Harriet 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Harriet was ranked #91 and Layla #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Harriet was ranked #152 and Layla #41 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Harriet was ranked #83 and Layla #50 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Harriet was ranked #68 and Layla #56 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Harriet was ranked #226 and Layla #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harriet was ranked #150 and Layla #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Harriet and Layla over time
Harriet and Layla appear together in 5 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Layla held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Harriet 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.
Layla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Harriet 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 2008, Layla moved ahead of Harriet in England and Wales · Girls — #73 and #82 the year before became #82 and #68.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harriet and Layla changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1983 and 2025, ending at #226 and #60.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Harriet and Layla averaged 60.0 places apart, ending at #68 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Harriet and Layla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 30 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #226 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Harriet #62 in 2020, Layla #24 in 2020.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1983–2025
Harriet held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Layla in 24.
Highest recorded here: Harriet #212 in 2023, Layla #44 in 2016.
The order changed in 2002: Layla moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #400 and #441; by 2002 that had become #443 and #312.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harriet #226, Layla #60.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Harriet held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Layla in 17.
Highest recorded here: Harriet #45 in 2018, Layla #29 in 2012.
The order changed in 2008: Layla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #73 and #82; by 2008 that had become #82 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harriet #68, Layla #56.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2004–2024
Harriet held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Layla in 16.
Highest recorded here: Harriet #107 in 2019, Layla #62 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harriet #150, Layla #91.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 2013–2025
Harriet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Layla in 13.
Highest recorded here: Harriet #62 in 2020, Layla #24 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harriet #91, Layla #35.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2023
Harriet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Layla in 10.
Highest recorded here: Harriet #52 in 2022, Layla #29 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Harriet #83, Layla #50.
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 | Harriet | Layla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'night' in Arabic. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleɪlə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #91 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Layla has a recorded origin (Arabic); Harriet does not have one recorded yet.
- Harriet and Layla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Layla; Harriet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Harriet
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #213 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Layla
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 recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls