Hayley vs Isla
Hayley and Islacompared 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, Hayley was ranked #230 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2016, Hayley was ranked #99 and Isla #3 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #503 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2018, Hayley was ranked #96 and Isla #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #227 and Isla #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #148 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Hayley and Isla over time
Hayley and Isla appear together in 5 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Hayley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Hayley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Isla 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 2004, Isla moved ahead of Hayley in England and Wales · Girls — #191 and #200 the year before became #240 and #168.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Hayley #140 in 2022, Isla #1 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Isla in 21.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1996, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order changed in 2004: Isla moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #191 and #200; by 2004 that had become #240 and #168.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #503, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1979–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Isla in 15.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #109 in 2021, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #148, Isla #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Isla in 18.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #140 in 2022, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #184 and #238; by 2007 that had become #223 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #227, Isla #8.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 2004–2016
Hayley held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Isla in 8.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #29 in 2006, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #34 and #50; by 2008 that had become #37 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Hayley #99, Isla #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 2008–2018
Hayley held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Isla in 8.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #33 in 2008, Isla #6 in 2018.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #33 and #72; by 2009 that had become #37 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Hayley #96, Isla #6.
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 | Hayley | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈaɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Islay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Hayley and Isla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Hayley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Hayley a "medium" Data Confidence level and Isla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls