Isla vs Maddison
Isla and Maddisoncompared 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 Maddison #130 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Isla was ranked #3 and Maddison #81 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Maddison #121 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2020, Isla was ranked #5 and Maddison #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Maddison #169 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Maddison #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Maddison over time
Isla and Maddison appear together in 6 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Maddison in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Maddison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Isla in none. 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 2008, Isla moved ahead of Maddison in England and Wales · Girls — #65 and #64 the year before became #36 and #74.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Isla and Maddison averaged 36.3 places apart, ending at #3 and #81.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Isla rose about as far as Maddison fell — from #92 and #51 in 2004 to #3 and #81 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Maddison were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 41 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #121.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #11 in 2023, Maddison #183 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls41 shared years, 1996–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maddison in 12.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Maddison #63 in 2005.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #65 and #64; by 2008 that had become #36 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Maddison #121.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maddison in 3.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Maddison #123 in 2009.
The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #238 and #184; by 2007 that had become #131 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Maddison #169.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Maddison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Maddison #183 in 2023.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #512 and #512; by 2006 that had become #394 and #635.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Maddison #226.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2023
Isla held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Maddison in 5.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2020, Maddison #27 in 2008.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #30 and #27; by 2009 that had become #18 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isla #3, Maddison #81.
Scotland · Girls19 shared years, 2024–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Maddison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Maddison #130 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Maddison #130.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 2008–2020
Isla held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Maddison in 2.
Highest recorded here: Isla #5 in 2019, Maddison #31 in 2008.
The order changed in 2010: Isla moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #34 and #33; by 2010 that had become #32 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Isla #5, Maddison #87.
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 | Maddison |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #226 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Maddison does not have one recorded yet.
- Isla has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Maddison.
- A meaning is recorded for Isla; Maddison doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Maddison 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
Maddison
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2020
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1998 (recorded 1992–2020).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls