Alison vs Tara
Alison and Taracompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Tara #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Tara #141 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Tara #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Tara over time
Alison and Tara appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Tara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alison 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.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Tara 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Tara moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #61 the year before became #35 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Tara changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #213 and #166.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 61 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Alison and Tara averaged 40.2 places apart, ending at #213 and #166.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Tara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #166.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Tara in 44.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 2017: Tara moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #114 and #116; by 2017 that had become #145 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Tara in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Tara #547.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1983–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Tara in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alison #27 in 1983, Tara #20 in 1985.
The order changed in 1984: Tara moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #27 and #61; by 1984 that had become #35 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Tara #84.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Tara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Tara #141.
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 | Alison | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tara.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #300 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls