Namewise

Meabh vs Sheila

Meabh and Sheilacompared 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 2011, Meabh was ranked #100 and Sheila #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Meabh was ranked #458 and Sheila #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Meabh was ranked #1229 and Sheila #3333 among girls in England and Wales.

Meabh and Sheila over time

Meabh and Sheila appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Meabh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sheila 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.

Sheila 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.

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 Sheila in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #240 and #198 the year before became #162 and #211.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Meabh and Sheila changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1999 and 2025, ending at #1229 and #3333.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 20 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Meabh rose about as far as Sheila fell — from #3225 and #2189 in 1999 to #1229 and #3333 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Meabh and Sheila were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 38 years, from 1976 to 2022, ending at #458 and #905.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls38 shared years, 1976–2022

    Meabh held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Sheila in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Meabh #76 in 2017, Sheila #81 in 1976.

    The order changed in 1995: Meabh moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #240 and #198; by 1995 that had become #162 and #211.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Meabh #458, Sheila #905.

  • England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 1999–2025

    Meabh held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sheila in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Meabh #952 in 2024, Sheila #1502 in 2006.

    The order changed in 2021: Meabh moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #3447 and #2843; by 2021 that had become #1286 and #3192.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Meabh #1229, Sheila #3333.

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.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Meabh, Sheila
FieldMeabhSheila
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈmʲeːw/Not yet recorded
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3333 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Sheila does not have one recorded yet.
  • Meabh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Sheila.
  • A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Sheila doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Meabh

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sheila

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #535 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2022

    Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2022).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3333 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls