Barbara vs Tammy
Barbara and Tammycompared 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 Tammy #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Barbara was ranked #876 and Tammy #584 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Tammy #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Tammy over time
Barbara and Tammy appear together in 2 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Barbara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Tammy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 1 of those lists, and Tammy 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Tammy changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1971 and 2014, ending at #876 and #584.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Tammy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 38 years, from 1971 to 2014, ending at #876 and #584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Tammy #364 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls38 shared years, 1971–2014
Barbara held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tammy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #49 in 1971, Tammy #242 in 1993.
The order changed in 2014: Tammy moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #393 and #695; by 2014 that had become #876 and #584.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Barbara #876, Tammy #584.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tammy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Tammy #364 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Barbara moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #1171 and #1171; by 2010 that had become #1040 and #1901.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Tammy #4192.
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 | Tammy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #4192 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tammy.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
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
Tammy
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1981
Highest recorded position: #57 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1969–1981).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls