Namewise

Isla vs Maisie

Isla and Maisiecompared 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 Maisie #18 among girls in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Isla was ranked #3 and Maisie #89 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Maisie #44 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Maisie #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Maisie #22 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Maisie #49 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Isla and Maisie over time

Isla and Maisie appear together in 4 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Maisie 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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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 2011, Isla moved ahead of Maisie in England and Wales · Girls — #22 and #14 the year before became #15 and #22.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Isla and Maisie averaged 48.0 places apart, ending at #13 and #49.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Isla and Maisie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 37 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #44.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Maisie #20 in 2023.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls37 shared years, 19962024

    Isla held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Maisie in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Maisie #14 in 2010.

    The order changed in 2011: Isla moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #22 and #14; by 2011 that had become #15 and #22.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Maisie #44.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 20022025

    Isla held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Maisie in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Maisie #49 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2013: Isla moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #129 and #100; by 2013 that had become #101 and #122.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Maisie #49.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 20062024

    Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Maisie in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Maisie #20 in 2023.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Maisie #22.

  • Scotland · Girls15 shared years, 20242024

    Isla held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Maisie in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Maisie #18 in 2024.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Maisie #18.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Isla, Maisie
FieldIslaMaisie
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names.Not yet recorded
OriginScottishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈaɪlə/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesIslayNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #49 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Isla has a recorded origin (Scottish); Maisie does not have one recorded yet.
  • Isla and Maisie both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Isla; Maisie 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 Maisie 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2008–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Maisie

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #135 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in England and Wales, in 2010 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls