Imogen vs Isla

Imogen 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.

New Zealand · Girls
In 2022, Imogen was ranked #81 and Isla #1 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #97 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #64 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #86 and Isla #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #119 and Isla #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Imogen was ranked #483 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Imogen and Isla over time

Imogen and Isla appear together in 5 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Imogen in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Imogen 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Isla moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2009 as Imogen fell out of it to #59, having been #38 the year before.
One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Isla moved ahead of Imogen in England and Wales · Girls — #33 and #36 the year before became #32 and #30.
Repeatedly exchanged positions
Imogen and Isla changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1979 and 2025, ending at #483 and #13.

List by list

England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Isla in 16.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #26 in 2010, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #33 and #36; by 2009 that had become #32 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #64, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1979–2025
Imogen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Isla in 20.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #255 in 2020, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Imogen #483, Isla #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Isla in 17.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #103 in 2007, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #103 and #131; by 2008 that had become #185 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #119, Isla #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2008–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Isla in 16.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #33 in 2013, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #38 and #72; by 2009 that had become #59 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #86, Isla #5.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 2005–2022
Imogen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Isla in 9.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #56 in 2009, Isla #1 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Imogen #81, Isla #1.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Isla

Pairs where Isla shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Isla vs Ada
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Ada #35 in 2023.
Isla · Ada · 11 shared years, 2013–2024 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2023 Northern Ireland ranking
Isla vs Alice
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2020, Alice #31 in 2018.
Isla · Alice · 20 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2020 New Zealand ranking
Isla vs Annie
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Annie #8 in 2022.
Isla · Annie · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2023 Northern Ireland ranking
Isla vs Aoife
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Aoife #4 in 2024.
Isla · Aoife · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Imogen, Isla
Field	Imogen	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	3	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 #483 (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); Imogen does not have one recorded yet.
Imogen has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Isla.
A meaning is recorded for Isla; Imogen 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 Imogen 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

Imogen

Popularity journey

First recorded1979
First recorded at #523 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in England and Wales, in 2010 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 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