Isla vs Riley
Isla and Riley 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #2 and Riley #108 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Isla was ranked #3 and Riley #41 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Riley #186 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Riley #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Riley #192 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Riley #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Riley 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 Riley over time
Isla and Riley appear together in 4 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Riley 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 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 2006, Isla moved ahead of Riley in New Zealand · Girls — #88 and #66 the year before became #47 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Riley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4 and #186.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2020, Riley #29 in 2021.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Riley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Riley #175 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #4, Riley #186.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2005–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Riley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Riley #174 in 2017.
The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #278 and #278; by 2007 that had become #131 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Riley #192.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2008–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Riley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Riley #134 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Riley #266.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 2004–2023
Isla held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Riley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2020, Riley #29 in 2021.
The order changed in 2006: Isla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #88 and #66; by 2006 that had become #47 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isla #3, Riley #41.
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 Riley
Pairs where Riley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Amelia vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #1 in 2019, Riley #29 in 2021.
Amelia · Riley · 17 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Harry vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Harry #1 in 2011, Riley #8 in 2012.
Harry · Riley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Liam vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Liam #1 in 2010, Riley #6 in 2008.
Liam · Riley · 24 shared years, 2000–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Luke vs Riley
In 2007, Riley moved ahead of Luke in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #17 and #21 the year before became #22 and #7.
Luke · Riley · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
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 New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
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 | Riley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | male |
| Meaning | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. | An Irish surname (variant of Reilly) or an English surname meaning 'rye clearing' — its use as a first name is relatively modern, dating from the 1980s-90s. |
| Origin | Scottish | Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | /ˈɹaɪ.li/ |
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #66 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin, while Riley is recorded with a Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition origin.
- Isla and Riley both have 2 syllables.
- Isla's recorded meaning differs from Riley's — see the table above for each.
- 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 Riley 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
Riley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1755 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
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls