Barbara vs Margaret
Barbara and Margaretcompared 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 Margaret #62 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Margaret #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Margaret #190 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1994, Barbara was ranked #399 and Margaret #528 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Margaret #493 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Margaret over time
Barbara and Margaret appear together in 5 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Margaret held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barbara 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Margaret changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 1994, ending at #399 and #528.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Margaret were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 45 years, from 1946 to 1994, ending at #399 and #528.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #16 in 1953, Margaret #3 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Margaret in 56.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Margaret #2 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Margaret #190.
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1946–1994
Barbara held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Margaret in 18.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Margaret #108 in 1953.
The order changed in 1966: Barbara moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #280 and #196; by 1966 that had become #242 and #300.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Barbara #399, Margaret #528.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Margaret in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Margaret #357 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Margaret #493.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Margaret in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Margaret #3 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Margaret #62.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Margaret in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Margaret #3 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Margaret #73.
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 | Margaret |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Margarita, from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl' — likely originally borrowed from an Indo-Iranian language. Associated with Saint Margaret, a 4th-century martyr and patron saint of expectant mothers. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɑɹ.ɡɹɪt/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Margaret has a recorded origin (Greek); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara and Margaret both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Margaret; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
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
Margaret
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #173 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls