Amanda vs Sarah
Amanda and Sarahcompared 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 1999, Amanda was ranked #84 and Sarah #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Amanda was ranked #72 and Sarah #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #52 and Sarah #115 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amanda was ranked #354 and Sarah #53 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #608 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #983 and Sarah #131 among girls in England and Wales.
Amanda and Sarah over time
Amanda and Sarah appear together in 6 published lists, across 230 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Amanda 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.
Sarah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Amanda in 2. 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 1981, Sarah moved ahead of Amanda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #2 and #4 the year before became #3 and #2.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amanda and Sarah changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1961 and 1997, ending at #72 and #4.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amanda and Sarah averaged 23.3 places apart, ending at #84 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Amanda and Sarah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #983 and #131.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 62.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #608, Sarah #66.
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1971–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Sarah in 27.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #26 in 2016, Sarah #35 in 2007.
The order changed in 2011: Amanda moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #56 and #48; by 2011 that had become #43 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #52, Sarah #115.
New Zealand · Girls37 shared years, 1961–1997
Amanda held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sarah in 35.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Sarah #1 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Amanda #72, Sarah #4.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1965–1999
Amanda held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sarah in 21.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #2 in 1980, Sarah #2 in 1981.
The order changed in 1981: Sarah moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #2 and #4; by 1981 that had become #3 and #2.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Amanda #84, Sarah #3.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 30.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #983, Sarah #131.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2022
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Sarah #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amanda #354, Sarah #53.
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 | Amanda | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sarah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Amanda does not have one recorded yet.
- Amanda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sarah.
- A meaning is recorded for Sarah; Amanda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Amanda
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #983 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #131 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls