Libby vs Niamh
Libby and Niamhcompared 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 2024, Libby was ranked #288 and Niamh #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Libby was ranked #260 and Niamh #76 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Libby was ranked #342 and Niamh #94 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Libby was ranked #454 and Niamh #193 among girls in England and Wales.
Libby and Niamh over time
Libby and Niamh appear together in 3 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Libby in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Niamh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Libby 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Libby held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Niamh in 25.
Highest recorded here: Libby #48 in 2005, Niamh #40 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Libby #454, Niamh #193.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Libby held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 26.
Highest recorded here: Libby #181 in 2011, Niamh #5 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Libby #342, Niamh #94.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2003–2024
Libby held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 19.
Highest recorded here: Libby #164 in 2009, Niamh #5 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Libby #288, Niamh #47.
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 | Libby | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (mythological) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Neve, Níam |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #260 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Libby does not have one recorded yet.
- Libby has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niamh.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Libby doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Libby a "medium" Data Confidence level and Niamh a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Libby
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #220 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #48 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #454 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Niamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 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: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls