Barbara vs Sarah
Barbara and Sarahcompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Sarah #13 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Sarah #57 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Sarah #62 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Sarah #67 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Sarah #130 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Sarah over time
Barbara and Sarah appear together in 4 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 4 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 3 of those lists, and Sarah 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sarah moved into the top 50 at #49 in 1969 as Barbara fell out of it to #56, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1964, Sarah moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #44 and #57 the year before became #47 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Sarah changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1960 and 2015, ending at #543 and #57.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Sarah were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 40 years, from 1960 to 2015, ending at #543 and #57.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #46 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #62.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sarah in 53.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order changed in 1969: Sarah moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #47 and #54; by 1969 that had become #56 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Sarah #62.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1960–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sarah in 24.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Sarah #43 in 2006.
The order changed in 1980: Sarah moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #168 and #206; by 1980 that had become #185 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Sarah #57.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Sarah #130.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1958–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sarah in 7.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #17 in 1958, Sarah #13 in 1971.
The order changed in 1964: Sarah moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #44 and #57; by 1964 that had become #47 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Sarah #13.
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 | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sarah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sarah.
- A meaning is recorded for Sarah; 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
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls