Nicola vs Orla
Nicola and Orlacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #790 and Orla #19 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #4201 and Orla #64 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Nicola was ranked #397 and Orla #90 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #898 and Orla #223 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Nicola and Orla over time
Nicola and Orla appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Orla held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nicola 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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Orla in 1. 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
Nicola and Orla changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2024, ending at #898 and #223.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Orla were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4201 and #64.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #63 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2020 they were #397 and #90.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Orla in 42.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Orla #22 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #898, Orla #223.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Orla in 21.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Orla #56 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Orla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #244 and #251; by 2008 that had become #222 and #211.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Orla #64.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Nicola held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Orla in 21.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Orla #33 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Nicola #397, Orla #90.
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 | Nicola | Orla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'. |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | /ˈɔɹ.lə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Órlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #64 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Nicola is recorded with a Greek, feminine form origin, while Orla is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Nicola has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Orla.
- Nicola's recorded meaning differs from Orla's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Nicola a "medium" Data Confidence level and Orla a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Orla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #52 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls