Namewise

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 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Matilda #19 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 5 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 5 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Isla and Matilda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4 and #19.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Matilda #8 in 2022.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Isla held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Matilda in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Matilda #19 in 2025.

    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, 2025: Isla #4, Matilda #19.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Isla

Pairs where Isla shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Matilda

Pairs where Matilda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

  • Matilda vs Layla

    Matilda and Layla both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Matilda · Layla · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Mia vs Matilda

    Mia and Matilda both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Mia · Matilda · 31 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Charlotte vs Matilda

    Charlotte and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Charlotte · Matilda · 33 shared years, 1965–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Matilda vs Daisy

    Matilda and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Matilda · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Isla, Matilda
FieldIslaMatilda
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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'.
OriginScottishGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈaɪlə//məˈtɪldə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesIslayTilly, Mathilde
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #4 (2025)United Kingdom #8 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighhigh

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

  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 England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Matilda

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2004–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls