Hugh vs Iarla
Hugh and Iarlacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Hugh was ranked #179 and Iarla #149 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Hugh was ranked #339 and Iarla #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Hugh was ranked #346 and Iarla #4747 among boys in England and Wales.
Hugh and Iarla over time
Hugh and Iarla appear together in 2 published lists, across 35 years of shared records. Hugh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Iarla 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.
Hugh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Iarla 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 2024, Iarla moved ahead of Hugh in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #146 and #150 the year before became #162 and #153.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hugh and Iarla changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1981 and 2025, ending at #179 and #149.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1981–2025
Hugh held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Iarla in 3.
Highest recorded here: Hugh #83 in 1981, Iarla #135 in 2021.
The order changed in 2024: Iarla moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #146 and #150; by 2024 that had become #162 and #153.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugh #179, Iarla #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2015–2024
Hugh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Iarla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Hugh #126 in 2023, Iarla #239 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Iarla moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #126 and #348; by 2024 that had become #339 and #239.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugh #339, Iarla #239.
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 | Hugh | Iarla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #149 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 92/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Hugh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Iarla.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Hugh
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #91 among boys in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #53 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Iarla
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #322 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1981–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys