Abigail vs Ciara
Abigail and Ciaracompared 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 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Ciara #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Ciara #215 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Ciara #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Ciara #722 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Ciara over time
Abigail and Ciara appear together in 3 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ciara in 1.
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.
Ciara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Abigail 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 2007, Abigail moved ahead of Ciara in Northern Ireland · Girls — #41 and #34 the year before became #34 and #42.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Abigail and Ciara averaged 49.1 places apart, ending at #80 and #127.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Abigail rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #303 and #68 in 1969 to #115 and #106 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Ciara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #115 and #106.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #19 in 2000, Ciara #124 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ciara in 52.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Ciara #2 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Ciara #106.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ciara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Ciara #124 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Ciara #722.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ciara in 9.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Ciara #18 in 1997.
The order changed in 2007: Abigail moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #41 and #34; by 2007 that had become #34 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Ciara #127.
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 | Abigail | Ciara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Feminine form of Ciar; traditionally interpreted as 'dark' or 'black', historically describing hair or complexion. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkɪərə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #106 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ciara has a recorded origin (Irish); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ciara.
- A meaning is recorded for Ciara; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Ciara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #146 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls