Barbara vs Kerrie
Barbara and Kerriecompared 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 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Kerrie #56 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Barbara was ranked #883 and Kerrie #764 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2012, Barbara was ranked #1130 and Kerrie #4838 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Kerrie over time
Barbara and Kerrie appear together in 3 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Kerrie 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 1959, Kerrie moved ahead of Barbara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #37 the year before became #47 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Kerrie changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1972 and 2021, ending at #883 and #764.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Kerrie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1972 to 2021, ending at #883 and #764.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Kerrie #428 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1972–2021
Barbara held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kerrie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #54 in 1972, Kerrie #122 in 1991.
The order changed in 2021: Kerrie moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #495 and #544; by 2021 that had become #883 and #764.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Barbara #883, Kerrie #764.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kerrie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Kerrie #28 in 1957.
The order changed in 1959: Kerrie moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #31 and #37; by 1959 that had become #47 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Kerrie #56.
England and Wales · Girls16 shared years, 1996–2012
Barbara held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kerrie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Kerrie #428 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Barbara moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #1325 and #996; by 2004 that had become #1617 and #2112.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Barbara #1130, Kerrie #4838.
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 | Barbara | Kerrie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #764 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kerrie.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Kerrie
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #54 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 recorded1952–1975
Highest recorded position: #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1975).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #764 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021.
Republic of Ireland · Girls