Isla vs Layla
Isla and Laylacompared 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 Layla #41 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Isla was ranked #3 and Layla #50 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Layla #56 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Layla #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Layla #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Layla #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Layla over time
Isla and Layla appear together in 6 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Layla in 1.
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.
Layla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2007, Isla moved ahead of Layla in England and Wales · Girls — #93 and #90 the year before became #65 and #82.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Isla and Layla averaged 47.5 places apart, ending at #4 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Layla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 38 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #56.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Isla #3 in 2014, Layla #29 in 2012.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls38 shared years, 1996–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Layla in 11.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Layla #29 in 2012.
The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #93 and #90; by 2007 that had become #65 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Layla #56.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Layla in 13.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Layla #44 in 2016.
The order changed in 2017: Isla moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #53 and #44; by 2017 that had become #40 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Layla #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Layla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Layla #62 in 2019.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #372 and #316; by 2006 that had become #238 and #332.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Layla #91.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 2008–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Layla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Layla #24 in 2020.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #72 and #48; by 2009 that had become #34 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #4, Layla #35.
Scotland · Girls16 shared years, 2024–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Layla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Layla #41 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Layla #41.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2010–2023
Isla held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Layla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2020, Layla #29 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isla #3, Layla #50.
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 | Layla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. | Means 'night' in Arabic. |
| Origin | Scottish | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | /ˈleɪlə/ |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Scottish origin, while Layla is recorded with a Arabic origin.
- Isla and Layla both have 2 syllables.
- Isla's recorded meaning differs from Layla's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Isla a "high" Data Confidence level and Layla 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
Layla
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls