Isla vs Josie
Isla and Josiecompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #2 and Josie #160 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Josie #263 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Josie #192 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Josie #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Josie over time
Isla and Josie appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Josie in 0.
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.
Josie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Isla 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 2003, Isla moved ahead of Josie in England and Wales · Girls — #276 and #204 the year before became #200 and #246.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Josie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 43 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #263.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Josie #171 in 2021.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls43 shared years, 1996–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Josie in 7.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Josie #201 in 2001.
The order changed in 2003: Isla moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #276 and #204; by 2003 that had become #200 and #246.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Josie #263.
Scotland · Girls21 shared years, 2024–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Josie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Josie #160 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Josie #160.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2005–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Josie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Josie #171 in 2021.
The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #278 and #209; by 2007 that had become #131 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Josie #192.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2008–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Josie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Josie #412 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Josie #443.
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 | Isla | Josie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Islay | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Josie does not have one recorded yet.
- Isla and Josie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Josie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Isla a "high" Data Confidence level and Josie a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Josie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #215 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls