Namewise

Andrea vs Cara

Andrea and Caracompared 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 2017, Andrea was ranked #355 and Cara #21 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Andrea was ranked #304 and Cara #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Andrea was ranked #1079 and Cara #468 among girls in England and Wales.

Andrea and Cara over time

Andrea and Cara appear together in 3 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Cara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Andrea 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.

Andrea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Cara 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 2003, Cara moved ahead of Andrea in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #85 and #101 the year before became #91 and #86.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Andrea fell — from #185 and #344 in 1966 to #304 and #52 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andrea and Cara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #468.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025

    Andrea held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Cara in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Andrea #62 in 1985, Cara #27 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2003: Cara moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #85 and #101; by 2003 that had become #91 and #86.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #304, Cara #52.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Cara in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Andrea #354 in 1998, Cara #140 in 2001.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #1079, Cara #468.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017

    Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Cara in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Andrea #119 in 1999, Cara #19 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Andrea #355, Cara #21.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Andrea

Pairs where Andrea shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Cara

Pairs where Cara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Andrea, Cara
FieldAndreaCara
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedGenuinely dual-sourced: an Italian word meaning 'beloved', or independently an Irish word meaning 'friend' — Behind the Name records both without resolving between them.
OriginNot yet recordedDisputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈkɑɹ.ə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedCaragh
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #98 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Cara has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish); Andrea does not have one recorded yet.
  • Andrea and Cara both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Cara; Andrea doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Andrea a "medium" Data Confidence level and Cara a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Andrea

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #401 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1952–2025

    Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1952–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1079 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Cara

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1966

    First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #468 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls