Barbara vs Sandra
Barbara and Sandracompared 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 Sandra #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Sandra #38 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Sandra #173 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Barbara was ranked #747 and Sandra #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Sandra #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Sandra over time
Barbara and Sandra appear together in 5 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Sandra held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barbara in 0.
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 5 of those lists, and Sandra 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 1957, Sandra moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #12 and #18 the year before became #17 and #12.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Sandra changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2000 and #2771.
- Mirrored each other
Over 49 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sandra rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #322 and #360 in 1947 to #543 and #173 in 2015.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Sandra were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 49 years, from 1947 to 2015, ending at #543 and #173.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #43 in 1964, Sandra #14 in 1965.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1964–2022
Barbara held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sandra in 50.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Sandra #14 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barbara #747, Sandra #747.
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1947–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sandra in 36.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Sandra #20 in 1990.
The order changed in 1971: Sandra moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #181 and #205; by 1971 that had become #207 and #138.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Sandra #173.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sandra in 22.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Sandra #534 in 2007.
The order changed in 2021: Barbara moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1238 and #1200; by 2021 that had become #1351 and #1505.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Sandra #2771.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sandra in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Sandra #13 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Sandra #31.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sandra in 14.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Sandra #3 in 1962.
The order changed in 1957: Sandra moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #12 and #18; by 1957 that had become #17 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Sandra #38.
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 | Sandra |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Norway · Girls #257 (2025) |
| 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 Sandra.
- 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
Sandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #351 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1962 (recorded 1954–1980).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #257 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls