Layla vs Matilda
Layla and Matildacompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Layla was ranked #35 and Matilda #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Layla was ranked #50 and Matilda #19 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Layla was ranked #50 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #41 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Layla was ranked #60 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #91 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Layla and Matilda over time
Layla and Matilda appear together in 5 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Matilda held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Layla in 2.
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 2010, Layla moved ahead of Matilda in Northern Ireland · Girls — #282 and #224 the year before became #120 and #160.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Layla and Matilda changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 2010 and 2023, ending at #50 and #27.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Layla and Matilda averaged 32.2 places apart, ending at #50 and #19.
- Longest-running competitions
Layla and Matilda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #50 and #19.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Layla #24 in 2020, Matilda #8 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Matilda in 26.
Highest recorded here: Layla #29 in 2012, Matilda #19 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #50, Matilda #19.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Matilda in 1.
Highest recorded here: Layla #44 in 2016, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order changed in 2002: Layla moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #441 and #400; by 2002 that had become #312 and #406.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #60, Matilda #106.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matilda in 22.
Highest recorded here: Layla #24 in 2020, Matilda #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #35, Matilda #16.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Layla held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Matilda in 3.
Highest recorded here: Layla #62 in 2019, Matilda #91 in 2017.
The order changed in 2010: Layla moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #282 and #224; by 2010 that had become #120 and #160.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Layla #91, Matilda #110.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 2010–2023
Layla held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Matilda in 9.
Highest recorded here: Layla #29 in 2022, Matilda #20 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Layla #50, Matilda #27.
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 | Layla | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Means 'night' in Arabic. | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. |
| Origin | Arabic | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleɪlə/ | /məˈtɪldə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Tilly, Mathilde |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Layla is recorded with a Arabic origin, while Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Layla has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- Layla's recorded meaning differs from Matilda'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 Layla a "medium" Data Confidence level and Matilda a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Layla
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Matilda
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls