Isobel vs Ivy
Isobel and Ivycompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Isobel was ranked #246 and Ivy #9 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isobel was ranked #207 and Ivy #14 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isobel was ranked #212 and Ivy #35 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Isobel was ranked #88 and Ivy #42 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isobel was ranked #239 and Ivy #50 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Isobel and Ivy over time
Isobel and Ivy appear together in 3 published lists, across 62 years of shared records. Ivy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Isobel in 1.
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.
Isobel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ivy 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Ivy moved ahead of Isobel in England and Wales · Girls — #80 and #168 the year before became #98 and #88.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ivy rose about as far as Isobel fell — from #94 and #1222 in 1996 to #246 and #9 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Isobel and Ivy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #246 and #9.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Isobel held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ivy in 14.
Highest recorded here: Isobel #50 in 2003, Ivy #5 in 2021.
The order changed in 2012: Ivy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #80 and #168; by 2012 that had become #98 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isobel #246, Ivy #9.
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1972–2025
Isobel held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Ivy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Isobel #81 in 2008, Ivy #49 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isobel #239, Ivy #50.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2012–2024
Isobel held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Ivy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Isobel #150 in 2013, Ivy #26 in 2023.
The order changed in 2015: Ivy moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #191 and #205; by 2015 that had become #195 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isobel #212, Ivy #35.
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 | Isobel | Ivy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the English word for the ivy plant. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English (plant name) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪvi/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #9 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ivy has a recorded origin (English (plant name)); Isobel does not have one recorded yet.
- Isobel has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ivy.
- A meaning is recorded for Ivy; Isobel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Isobel
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #50 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #246 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Ivy
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #471 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls