Irmelin vs Zoe
Irmelin and Zoecompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Irmelin was ranked #514 and Zoe #288 among girls in Norway.
Irmelin and Zoe over time
Irmelin and Zoe appear together in 1 published list, across 19 years of shared records. Irmelin held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Zoe 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.
Irmelin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Zoe 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Irmelin and Zoe changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1987 and 2023, ending at #514 and #288.
List by list
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 1987–2023
Irmelin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Zoe in 9.
Highest recorded here: Irmelin #323 in 1993, Zoe #211 in 2020.
The order changed in 2016: Zoe moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #379 and #443; by 2016 that had become #427 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Irmelin #514, Zoe #288.
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 Zoe
Pairs where Zoe shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Zoe vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #1362.
Zoe · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Zoe vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #983.
Zoe · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Zoe
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #31 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #104.
Samantha · Zoe · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Zoe vs Paige
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #28 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #580.
Zoe · Paige · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Irmelin | Zoe |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'life' in Greek. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Ancient Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈzoʊi/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #514 (2023) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Zoe has a recorded origin (Ancient Greek); Irmelin does not have one recorded yet.
- Irmelin has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Zoe.
- A meaning is recorded for Zoe; Irmelin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
How each name got here
Irmelin
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #368 among girls in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1950–2023
Highest recorded position: #255 among girls in Norway, in 1997 (recorded 1950–2023).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #514 among girls in Norway, in 2023.
Norway · Girls
Zoe
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 recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1981–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #104 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls