Meabh vs Phyllis
Meabh and Phylliscompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1990, Meabh was ranked #201 and Phyllis #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Meabh was ranked #952 and Phyllis #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Meabh and Phyllis over time
Meabh and Phyllis appear together in 2 published lists, across 18 years of shared records. Meabh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Phyllis in 0.
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.
Phyllis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls9 shared years, 2003–2024
Meabh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Phyllis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Meabh #952 in 2024, Phyllis #3594 in 2003.
The order changed in 2013: Meabh moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #5876 and #5876; by 2013 that had become #2887 and #4739.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Meabh #952, Phyllis #5891.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1979–1990
Meabh held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Phyllis in 3.
Highest recorded here: Meabh #201 in 1990, Phyllis #363 in 1981.
The order changed in 1982: Meabh moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #533 and #363; by 1982 that had become #467 and #523.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Meabh #201, Phyllis #517.
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 | Meabh | Phyllis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmʲeːw/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Phyllis does not have one recorded yet.
- Meabh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Phyllis.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Phyllis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
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 #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Phyllis
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1964–1990
Highest recorded position: #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–1990).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls