Barbara vs Mila

Barbara and Milacompared 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.

England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Mila #46 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Mila #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Mila #190 among girls in Norway.

Barbara and Mila over time

Barbara and Mila appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Mila held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barbara in 0.

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.

Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Mila 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.

Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Mila rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #848 and #2683 in 1996 to #2000 and #46 in 2024.

List by list

England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mila in 23.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Mila #35 in 2023.
The order changed in 2003: Mila moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #1151 and #1442; by 2003 that had become #1325 and #799.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Mila #46.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2005–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Mila in 14.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #316 in 2015, Mila #58 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Mila #66.

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 Barbara

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

Anna vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #23 and #856.
Anna · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
Sarah vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #62 and #856.
Sarah · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
Maria vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #856.
Maria · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
Barbara vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #94.
Barbara · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking

Other comparisons involving Mila

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

Mila vs Aurora
Mila and Aurora both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Aurora · 33 shared years, 1982–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Mila vs Daisy
Mila and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Mila vs Elsie
Mila and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Elsie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Freya vs Mila
Freya and Mila both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Mila · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Barbara, Mila
Field	Barbara	Mila
Record type	Official statistical record (evidence-only)	Editorially researched profile
Gender usage	female	female
Meaning	Not yet recorded	Commonly interpreted as 'gracious, dear', from the Slavic element milu. Originally used as a short form of longer names containing that element before becoming an independent given name.
Origin	Not yet recorded	Slavic
Pronunciation		/ˈmi.ɫa/
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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024)	New South Wales, Australia · Girls #21 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	82/100	95/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Mila has a recorded origin (Slavic); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mila.
A meaning is recorded for Mila; 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

Mila

Popularity journey

First recorded1981
First recorded at #653 among girls in Norway in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls