Leah vs Selina
Leah and Selinacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Leah was ranked #12 and Selina #227 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Leah was ranked #35 and Selina #358 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Leah was ranked #53 and Selina #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Leah was ranked #183 and Selina #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Leah and Selina over time
Leah and Selina appear together in 3 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Leah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Selina in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Selina reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leah 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leah and Selina changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1988 and 2025, ending at #12 and #227.
- Mirrored each other
Over 43 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Leah rose about as far as Selina fell — from #310 and #380 in 1966 to #53 and #898 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Leah and Selina were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #183 and #610.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1966–2024
Leah held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Selina in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leah #9 in 2005, Selina #166 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leah #53, Selina #898.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1988–2025
Leah held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Selina in 5.
Highest recorded here: Leah #12 in 2025, Selina #220 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leah #12, Selina #227.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leah held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Selina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leah #24 in 2002, Selina #248 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leah #183, Selina #610.
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 Leah
Pairs where Leah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Leah vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #183 and #3035.
Leah · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natasha vs Leah
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #35 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #183.
Natasha · Leah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leah vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #183 and #983.
Leah · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Leah
In 1996 they stood at #44 and #35 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #183.
Louise · Leah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Leah | Selina |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Likely derives from a Hebrew word meaning 'weary, grieved'; an alternative theory suggests a connection to Akkadian 'littu' ('cow'). In the Old Testament, Leah was Jacob's first wife. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #12 (2025) | Norway · Girls #227 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed); Selina does not have one recorded yet.
- Leah has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Selina.
- A meaning is recorded for Leah; Selina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Leah
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #310 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #183 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Selina
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2024
Highest recorded position: #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #610 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls