Isabella vs Laura
Isabella and Lauracompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Isabella was ranked #1 and Laura #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Isabella was ranked #4 and Laura #71 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #10 and Laura #303 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isabella was ranked #44 and Laura #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #48 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isabella was ranked #50 and Laura #351 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #122 and Laura #141 among girls in Norway.
Isabella and Laura over time
Isabella and Laura appear together in 6 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Isabella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Laura in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Laura reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Isabella in 1. 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 England and Wales · Girls, Isabella moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2003 as Laura fell out of it to #67, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Isabella moved ahead of Laura in England and Wales · Girls — #50 and #48 the year before became #37 and #67.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Isabella and Laura changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #122 and #141.
- Longest-running competitions
Isabella and Laura were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #10 and #303.
List by list
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1966–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Laura in 28.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #42 in 2010, Laura #99 in 2024.
The order changed in 2025: Isabella moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #104 and #99; by 2025 that had become #122 and #141.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #122, Laura #141.
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1964–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Laura in 36.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #41 in 2014, Laura #2 in 1988.
The order changed in 2017: Isabella moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #62 and #54; by 2017 that had become #48 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #48, Laura #112.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Laura in 7.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #6 in 2016, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Isabella moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #50 and #48; by 2003 that had become #37 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #10, Laura #303.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024
Isabella held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Laura in 9.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #27 in 2019, Laura #19 in 1999.
The order changed in 2008: Isabella moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #64 and #46; by 2008 that had become #48 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabella #44, Laura #253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1993–2009
Isabella held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Laura in 4.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #1 in 2007, Laura #9 in 1994.
The order changed in 1997: Isabella moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #20 and #13; by 1997 that had become #13 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Isabella #1, Laura #90.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1995–2008
Isabella held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Laura in 6.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #4 in 2008, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order changed in 2001: Isabella moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #26 and #25; by 2001 that had become #15 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Isabella #4, Laura #71.
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 | Isabella | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | My God is an oath (via Elizabeth). | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˌɪzəˈbɛlə/ | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Bella, Izzy, Isabel, Isobel | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #10 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isabella is recorded with a Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth origin, while Laura is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Isabella has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Laura.
- Isabella's recorded meaning differs from Laura's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Isabella a "high" Data Confidence level and Laura a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Isabella
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #472 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #10 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls