Karla vs Meabh
Karla and Meabhcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Karla was ranked #365 and Meabh #78 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Karla was ranked #718 and Meabh #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karla was ranked #2605 and Meabh #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Karla and Meabh over time
Karla and Meabh appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Meabh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Karla 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.
Karla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Meabh 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 1995, Meabh moved ahead of Karla in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #232 and #240 the year before became #272 and #162.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karla and Meabh changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1979 and 2025, ending at #718 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Karla and Meabh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #718 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1979–2025
Karla held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Meabh in 31.
Highest recorded here: Karla #194 in 1999, Meabh #76 in 2017.
The order changed in 1995: Meabh moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #232 and #240; by 1995 that had become #272 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karla #718, Meabh #413.
England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 1999–2025
Karla held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Meabh in 6.
Highest recorded here: Karla #490 in 1999, Meabh #952 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Meabh moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1687 and #3447; by 2021 that had become #2341 and #1286.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karla #2605, Meabh #1229.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2014
Karla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Meabh in 15.
Highest recorded here: Karla #155 in 1998, Meabh #73 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Karla #365, Meabh #78.
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 Meabh
Pairs where Meabh shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Meabh vs Taylor
Meabh and Taylor changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1993 and 2025, ending at #413 and #443.
Meabh · Taylor · 33 shared years, 1993–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Meabh vs Lara
Meabh and Lara changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #413 and #102.
Meabh · Lara · 48 shared years, 1976–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Annie vs Meabh
Annie and Meabh changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #33 and #413.
Annie · Meabh · 48 shared years, 1976–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Isla vs Meabh
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Meabh #17 in 2024.
Isla · Meabh · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Karla | Meabh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmʲeːw/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #266 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Karla does not have one recorded yet.
- Karla has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Meabh.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Karla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Karla
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Meabh
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls