Namewise

Isabella vs Molly

Isabella and Mollycompared 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 2025, Isabella was ranked #10 and Molly #120 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2021, Isabella was ranked #13 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Isabella was ranked #15 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Isabella was ranked #48 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Isabella was ranked #44 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Isabella was ranked #50 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Isabella was ranked #122 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.

Isabella and Molly over time

Isabella and Molly appear together in 6 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Isabella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Molly in 2.

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.

Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Isabella in 2. 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 2006, Isabella moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #24 and #22 the year before became #20 and #25.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Isabella and Molly changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1999 and 2024, ending at #44 and #28.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Isabella and Molly averaged 44.4 places apart, ending at #10 and #120.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Isabella and Molly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #10 and #120.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Isabella #1 in 2007, Molly #32 in 2005.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1992–2025

    Isabella held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 34.

    Highest recorded here: Isabella #41 in 2014, Molly #18 in 2019.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #48, Molly #20.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Isabella held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Molly in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Isabella #6 in 2016, Molly #15 in 2001.

    The order changed in 2006: Isabella moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #24 and #22; by 2006 that had become #20 and #25.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #10, Molly #120.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024

    Isabella held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Molly in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Isabella #27 in 2019, Molly #18 in 2007.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabella #44, Molly #28.

  • New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023

    Isabella held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Isabella #4 in 2008, Molly #31 in 2003.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Isabella #15, Molly #69.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2021

    Isabella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Isabella #1 in 2007, Molly #32 in 2005.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Isabella #13, Molly #100.

  • Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025

    Isabella held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Isabella #42 in 2010, Molly #167 in 2011.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #122, Molly #217.

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 Isabella

Pairs where Isabella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Isabella, Molly
FieldIsabellaMolly
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningMy God is an oath (via Elizabeth).Not yet recorded
OriginSpanish/Italian, via ElizabethNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˌɪzəˈbɛlə/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesBella, Izzy, Isabel, IsobelNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #10 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Isabella has a recorded origin (Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
  • Isabella has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Molly.
  • A meaning is recorded for Isabella; Molly 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 Molly 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1993–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #10 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Molly

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1989

    First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls