Isla vs Roisin
Isla and Roisincompared 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 Roisin #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #4 and Roisin #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Roisin #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Roisin #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isla and Roisin over time
Isla and Roisin appear together in 4 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Roisin in 1.
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.
Roisin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Isla in none. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Isla moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2018 as Roisin fell out of it to #474, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Isla moved ahead of Roisin in Northern Ireland · Girls — #238 and #121 the year before became #131 and #162.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Isla rose about as far as Roisin fell — from #372 and #155 in 2004 to #8 and #288 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Isla and Roisin were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 41 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #4 and #934.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #2 in 2024, Roisin #541 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls41 shared years, 1996–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Roisin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Roisin #247 in 1997.
The order changed in 1999: Isla moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #369 and #283; by 1999 that had become #286 and #320.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #4, Roisin #934.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1979–2025
Isla held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Roisin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Roisin #23 in 2005.
The order changed in 2018: Isla moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #40 and #37; by 2018 that had become #37 and #474.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Roisin #544.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Roisin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Roisin #110 in 2008.
The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #238 and #121; by 2007 that had become #131 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Roisin #288.
Scotland · Girls19 shared years, 2024–2024
Isla held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Roisin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Roisin #541 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Roisin #541.
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 | Roisin |
|---|---|---|
| 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 diminutive form commonly interpreted as 'little rose', from Irish rós ('rose', ultimately of Latin origin) plus a diminutive suffix. |
| Origin | Scottish | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪlə/ | /ɾˠoːˈʃiːnʲ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Islay | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin, while Roisin is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Isla and Roisin both have 2 syllables.
- Isla's recorded meaning differs from Roisin's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Isla a "high" Data Confidence level and Roisin 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 New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Roisin
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #154 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls