Isabella vs Maya
Isabella and Mayacompared 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, Isabella was ranked #11 and Maya #15 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Isabella was ranked #15 and Maya #72 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #17 and Maya #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isabella was ranked #50 and Maya #19 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #48 and Maya #40 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isabella was ranked #44 and Maya #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #122 and Maya #86 among girls in Norway.
Isabella and Maya over time
Isabella and Maya appear together in 6 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Isabella held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Maya 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.
Isabella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Maya 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2021, Maya moved ahead of Isabella in Norway · Girls — #87 and #99 the year before became #107 and #80.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Isabella and Maya changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #122 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Isabella and Maya averaged 50.0 places apart, ending at #11 and #15.
- Longest-running competitions
Isabella and Maya were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 50 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #122 and #86.
List by list
Norway · Girls50 shared years, 1966–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Maya in 27.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #42 in 2010, Maya #66 in 2016.
The order changed in 2021: Maya moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #87 and #99; by 2021 that had become #107 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #122, Maya #86.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Isabella held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #6 in 2016, Maya #15 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabella #11, Maya #15.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Maya in 6.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #41 in 2014, Maya #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Maya moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #50 and #54; by 2021 that had become #55 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #48, Maya #40.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 2001–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Maya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #1 in 2007, Maya #28 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #17, Maya #53.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1999–2024
Isabella held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Maya in 2.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #27 in 2019, Maya #47 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabella #44, Maya #47.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2003–2023
Isabella held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Maya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #4 in 2008, Maya #68 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isabella #15, Maya #72.
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 | Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | My God is an oath (via Elizabeth). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˌɪzəˈbɛlə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 4 | 1 |
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #17 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #40 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isabella has a recorded origin (Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth); Maya does not have one recorded yet.
- Isabella has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Maya.
- A meaning is recorded for Isabella; Maya doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Maya 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 #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Maya
Popularity journey
First recorded1961
First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls