Naimh vs Zoe
Naimh and Zoecompared 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 2001, Naimh was ranked #441 and Zoe #42 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Naimh was ranked #351 and Zoe #43 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2003, Naimh was ranked #4373 and Zoe #53 among girls in England and Wales.
Naimh and Zoe over time
Naimh and Zoe appear together in 1 published list, across 8 years of shared records. Zoe held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Naimh in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Naimh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Zoe 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
Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1968–2001
Naimh held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Zoe in 6.
Highest recorded here: Naimh #319 in 1998, Zoe #42 in 2000.
The order changed in 1970: Zoe moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #357 and #401; by 1970 that had become #447 and #307.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Naimh #441, Zoe #42.
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 Zoe
Pairs where Zoe shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Zoe vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #99 and #1262.
Zoe · Natasha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Zoe vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #99 and #1230.
Zoe · Chelsea · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Zoe
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #31 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #670 and #99.
Samantha · Zoe · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shauna vs Zoe
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #37 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #424 and #62.
Shauna · Zoe · 23 shared years, 1997–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Naimh | Zoe |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'life' in Greek. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Ancient Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈzoʊi/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4373 (2003) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Zoe has a recorded origin (Ancient Greek); Naimh does not have one recorded yet.
- Naimh and Zoe both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Zoe; Naimh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Naimh
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #357 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2001
Highest recorded position: #319 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1968–2001).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2003
Most recently recorded at #4373 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003.
England and Wales · Girls
Zoe
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1981–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls