Orla vs Sinead
Orla and Sineadcompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Orla was ranked #58 and Sinead #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Orla was ranked #91 and Sinead #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Orla was ranked #284 and Sinead #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Orla and Sinead over time
Orla and Sinead appear together in 3 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Orla held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sinead in 1.
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.
Sinead reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Orla 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 1998, Orla moved ahead of Sinead in Northern Ireland · Girls — #63 and #57 the year before became #40 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Orla and Sinead averaged 58.9 places apart, ending at #284 and #905.
- Longest-running competitions
Orla and Sinead were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 58 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #284 and #905.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Orla #33 in 2000, Sinead #54 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #63 and #57 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2023 they were #91 and #391.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2022
Orla held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sinead in 36.
Highest recorded here: Orla #22 in 1980, Sinead #2 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Orla #284, Sinead #905.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Orla held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sinead in 10.
Highest recorded here: Orla #56 in 2023, Sinead #154 in 2003.
The order changed in 2006: Orla moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #319 and #294; by 2006 that had become #287 and #316.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Orla #58, Sinead #3695.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2023
Orla held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sinead in 1.
Highest recorded here: Orla #33 in 2000, Sinead #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Orla moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #63 and #57; by 1998 that had become #40 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Orla #91, Sinead #391.
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 | Orla | Sinead |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The Anglicized form of Órlaith, combining Irish 'ór' (gold) with 'flaith' (sovereignty, royalty) — traditionally read as 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereignty'. | Irish form of Jeannette/Janet; the underlying chain traces to the Hebrew name Yochanan, commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Irish | Irish, via Anglo-Norman French Jeannette |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɔɹ.lə/ | /ˈʃɪnʲeːdˠ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Órlaith, Orlagh, Órfhlaith | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #189 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Orla is recorded with a Irish origin, while Sinead is recorded with a Irish, via Anglo-Norman French Jeannette origin.
- Orla and Sinead both have 2 syllables.
- Orla's recorded meaning differs from Sinead's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Orla a "high" Data Confidence level and Sinead a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Sinead
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 recorded1964–2022
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls