Isla vs Matilda
Isla and Matildacompared 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 Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Isla was ranked #3 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Matilda #31 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Matilda #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Matilda over time
Isla and Matilda appear together in 6 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Matilda 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.
Matilda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Isla in 2. 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 Matilda in England and Wales · Girls — #65 and #62 the year before became #36 and #43.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 44 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Isla and Matilda averaged 50.7 places apart, ending at #4 and #31.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Matilda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 44 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #31.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Isla #3 in 2014, Matilda #25 in 2016.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls44 shared years, 1996–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Matilda in 12.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Matilda #25 in 2016.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #65 and #62; by 2008 that had become #36 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Matilda #31.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Matilda in 5.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order changed in 2011: Isla moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #205 and #205; by 2011 that had become #189 and #194.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Matilda #106.
Scotland · Girls22 shared years, 2024–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Matilda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Matilda #148 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Matilda #148.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Matilda in 1.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Matilda #91 in 2017.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #372 and #316; by 2006 that had become #238 and #384.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Matilda #110.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 2008–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Matilda in 6.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Matilda #8 in 2022.
The order changed in 2014: Isla moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #19 and #18; by 2014 that had become #13 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #4, Matilda #16.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2023
Isla held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Matilda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2020, Matilda #20 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isla #3, Matilda #27.
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 | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. |
| Origin | Scottish | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | /məˈtɪldə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Islay | Tilly, Mathilde |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin, while Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Isla has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- Isla's recorded meaning differs from Matilda's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Matilda
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — 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: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls