Namewise

Iona vs Mabel

Iona and Mabelcompared 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.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Iona was ranked #451 and Mabel #37 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Iona was ranked #83 and Mabel #83 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Iona was ranked #544 and Mabel #94 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Iona was ranked #237 and Mabel #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.

Iona and Mabel over time

Iona and Mabel appear together in 3 published lists, across 53 years of shared records. Mabel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Iona in 1.

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.

Iona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Mabel 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Iona held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Mabel in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Iona #199 in 2000, Mabel #37 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2011: Mabel moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #376 and #386; by 2011 that had become #375 and #360.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Iona #451, Mabel #37.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 20022025

    Iona held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mabel in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Iona #403 in 2008, Mabel #94 in 2025.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Iona #544, Mabel #94.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 20142023

    Iona held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mabel in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Iona #237 in 2023, Mabel #142 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2019: Mabel moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #238 and #273; by 2019 that had become #424 and #336.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Iona #237, Mabel #142.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Iona, Mabel
FieldIonaMabel
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #94 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Iona and Mabel both have 2 syllables.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Iona

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1988

    First recorded at #492 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Mabel

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1965

    First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #94 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls