Barbara vs Sharon
Barbara and Sharoncompared 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 Sharon #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Sharon #24 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Barbara was ranked #495 and Sharon #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1998, Barbara was ranked #533 and Sharon #520 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Sharon #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Sharon over time
Barbara and Sharon appear together in 5 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Sharon held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barbara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Sharon 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 1955, Sharon moved ahead of Barbara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #35 the year before became #35 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Sharon changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2000 and #2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Sharon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2020, ending at #495 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Sharon #539 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #39 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2020 they were #495 and #834.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2020
Barbara held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sharon in 46.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Sharon #5 in 1970.
The order changed in 2019: Barbara moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #629 and #629; by 2019 that had become #621 and #871.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Barbara #495, Sharon #834.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sharon in 19.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Sharon #539 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Sharon #2000.
Norway · Girls20 shared years, 1961–1998
Barbara held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sharon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #174 in 1961, Sharon #354 in 1980.
The order changed in 1995: Sharon moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #399 and #655; by 1995 that had become #615 and #598.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Barbara #533, Sharon #520.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sharon in 14.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Sharon #2 in 1965.
The order changed in 1955: Sharon moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #25 and #35; by 1955 that had become #35 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Sharon #4.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sharon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Sharon #5 in 1964.
The order changed in 1959: Sharon moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #17 and #18; by 1959 that had become #21 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Sharon #24.
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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From a Hebrew place name — a fertile plain on the central west coast of Israel, also referenced in the biblical 'rose of Sharon' flowering plant. Used as a feminine given name in English since the 1920s. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew (place name origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃæɹ.ən/ | |
| 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) | Scotland · Girls #638 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sharon has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sharon.
- A meaning is recorded for Sharon; 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
Sharon
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #47 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 recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1965 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls