Hayley vs Laura
Hayley and Lauracompared 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 2009, Hayley was ranked #37 and Laura #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Hayley was ranked #37 and Laura #71 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #148 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #227 and Laura #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #230 and Laura #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #503 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Hayley and Laura over time
Hayley and Laura appear together in 5 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Hayley 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.
Laura reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Hayley in 1. 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 2002, Hayley moved ahead of Laura in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #29 the year before became #26 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hayley and Laura changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #253.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hayley and Laura averaged 20.5 places apart, ending at #37 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Hayley and Laura were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1979 to 2009, ending at #37 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hayley #57 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1968–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 51.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #48 in 1997, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #148, Laura #112.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1979–2009
Hayley held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Laura in 22.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #18 in 2003, Laura #9 in 1994.
The order changed in 2002: Hayley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #31 and #29; by 2002 that had become #26 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Hayley #37, Laura #90.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1978–2008
Hayley held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Laura in 19.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #14 in 1990, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Hayley #37, Laura #71.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #503, Laura #258.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Hayley held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Laura in 22.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1997, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Hayley moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #237 and #237; by 2024 that had become #227 and #253.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hayley #227, Laura #253.
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 | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Hayley and Laura both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Hayley 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
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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls