Isla vs Nina
Isla and Nina compared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2022, Isla was ranked #1 and Nina #77 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #2 and Nina #97 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Nina #157 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Nina #63 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Nina #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Nina over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Isla and Nina over time
Isla and Nina appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nina in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 2 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 2003, Isla moved ahead of Nina in England and Wales · Girls — #276 and #259 the year before became #200 and #245.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Nina were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4 and #157.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Nina #63 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Nina in 7.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Nina #137 in 2021.
The order changed in 2003: Isla moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #276 and #259; by 2003 that had become #200 and #245.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #4, Nina #157.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1979–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nina in 9.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Nina #83 in 2020.
The order changed in 2012: Isla moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #189 and #159; by 2012 that had become #129 and #146.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Nina #112.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Nina in 2.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Nina #63 in 2024.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #278 and #209; by 2006 that had become #238 and #265.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Nina #63.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 2011–2022
Isla held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2022, Nina #63 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Isla #1, Nina #77.
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.
- Isla vs Arabella
Isla and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Isla · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Isla vs Ada
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Ada #35 in 2023.
Isla · Ada · 11 shared years, 2013–2024 · Peaked in the same years
- Isla vs Alice
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2020, Alice #31 in 2018.
Isla · Alice · 20 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Isla vs Annie
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Annie #8 in 2022.
Isla · Annie · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other comparisons involving Nina
Pairs where Nina shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Nina
Anna and Nina were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #195.
Anna · Nina · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Nina
Anne and Nina were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #195.
Anne · Nina · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Nina vs Astrid
Nina and Astrid were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #195 and #9.
Nina · Astrid · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Nina vs Elin
Nina and Elin were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #195 and #263.
Nina · Elin · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Isla | Nina |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | A short form of names ending in '-nina', such as Antonina or Giannina; imported to Western Europe from Russia and Italy in the 19th century. |
| Origin | Scottish | Various (Russian/Italian short-form tradition) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | /ˈnʲi.nə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Islay | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin, while Nina is recorded with a Various (Russian/Italian short-form tradition) origin.
- Isla and Nina both have 2 syllables.
- Isla's recorded meaning differs from Nina's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Isla a "high" Data Confidence level and Nina 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 England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nina
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #132 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1964 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #157 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls