Isabel vs Meabh
Isabel and Meabhcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isabel was ranked #253 and Meabh #17 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isabel was ranked #127 and Meabh #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isabel was ranked #169 and Meabh #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isabel was ranked #431 and Meabh #351 among girls in Scotland.
Isabel and Meabh over time
Isabel and Meabh appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Isabel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Meabh in 1.
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.
Isabel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Meabh 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 2018, Isabel moved ahead of Meabh in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #111 and #76 the year before became #99 and #387.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Isabel and Meabh changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #127 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Isabel and Meabh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #127 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1976–2025
Isabel held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Meabh in 15.
Highest recorded here: Isabel #59 in 2008, Meabh #76 in 2017.
The order changed in 2018: Isabel moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #111 and #76; by 2018 that had become #99 and #387.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabel #127, Meabh #413.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2001–2024
Isabel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Meabh in 20.
Highest recorded here: Isabel #180 in 2010, Meabh #17 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabel #253, Meabh #17.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1999–2024
Isabel held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Meabh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isabel #45 in 2006, Meabh #952 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabel #169, Meabh #952.
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 | Isabel | Meabh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmʲeːw/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #127 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Isabel does not have one recorded yet.
- Isabel has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Meabh.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Isabel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Isabel
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #422 among girls in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #320 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Meabh
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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls