Isla vs Lara
Isla and Laracompared 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 2023, Isla was ranked #1 and Lara #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #2 and Lara #131 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Lara #98 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Lara #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Lara #102 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Lara over time
Isla and Lara appear together in 5 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lara in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lara 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 2006, Isla moved ahead of Lara in England and Wales · Girls — #125 and #105 the year before became #93 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Lara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 38 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Lara #51 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls38 shared years, 1996–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Lara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Lara #85 in 2022.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #125 and #105; by 2006 that had become #93 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Lara #98.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1979–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Lara #80 in 2002.
The order changed in 2014: Isla moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #101 and #95; by 2014 that had become #84 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Lara #102.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Lara in 4.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Lara #51 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #131 and #64; by 2008 that had become #95 and #106.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Lara #110.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 2008–2023
Isla held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Lara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Lara #28 in 2008.
The order changed in 2010: Isla moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #34 and #32; by 2010 that had become #32 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isla #1, Lara #81.
Scotland · Girls16 shared years, 2024–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Lara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Lara #131 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Lara #131.
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 | Lara |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Islay | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #102 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Isla and Lara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Isla a "high" Data Confidence level and Lara 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
Lara
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #553 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #144 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls