Holly vs Kayla
Holly and Kaylacompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Holly was ranked #44 and Kayla #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Holly was ranked #52 and Kayla #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Kayla #130 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Kayla #171 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #105 and Kayla #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #169 and Kayla #386 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Kayla over time
Holly and Kayla appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Holly held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kayla 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.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kayla in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Holly moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2000 as Kayla fell out of it to #56, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Holly moved ahead of Kayla in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #45 and #44 the year before became #37 and #56.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Holly and Kayla changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1986 and 2014, ending at #44 and #89.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Holly and Kayla averaged 23.4 places apart, ending at #52 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Kayla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #169 and #386.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Holly #16 in 1994, Kayla #18 in 1992.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Kayla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Kayla #21 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Kayla #130.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kayla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Kayla #98 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #169, Kayla #386.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1986–2014
Holly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Kayla in 4.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Kayla #18 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Holly #44, Kayla #89.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1985–2012
Holly held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kayla in 12.
Highest recorded here: Holly #19 in 2003, Kayla #28 in 1990.
The order changed in 2000: Holly moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #45 and #44; by 2000 that had become #37 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Holly #52, Kayla #83.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kayla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Kayla #40 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #105, Kayla #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 | Holly | Kayla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #130 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Holly and Kayla both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kayla
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2014
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2014).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #386 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls