Beth vs Cara
Beth and Caracompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Beth was ranked #161 and Cara #33 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Beth was ranked #266 and Cara #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Beth was ranked #431 and Cara #196 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Beth was ranked #2253 and Cara #454 among girls in England and Wales.
Beth and Cara over time
Beth and Cara appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Cara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Beth 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.
Beth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Cara 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 2007, Cara moved ahead of Beth in England and Wales · Girls — #187 and #198 the year before became #221 and #196.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Beth and Cara changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #161 and #33.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Beth and Cara averaged 54.1 places apart, ending at #161 and #33.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Beth fell — from #89 and #85 in 1997 to #161 and #33 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Beth and Cara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #266 and #52.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1987–2025
Beth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Cara in 34.
Highest recorded here: Beth #124 in 2011, Cara #27 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Beth #266, Cara #52.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Beth held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Cara in 18.
Highest recorded here: Beth #83 in 1996, Cara #140 in 2001.
The order changed in 2007: Cara moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #187 and #198; by 2007 that had become #221 and #196.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beth #2253, Cara #454.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Beth held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Cara in 26.
Highest recorded here: Beth #40 in 2000, Cara #19 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beth #161, Cara #33.
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 | Beth | Cara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Genuinely dual-sourced: an Italian word meaning 'beloved', or independently an Irish word meaning 'friend' — Behind the Name records both without resolving between them. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Disputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɑɹ.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Caragh |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Cara has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish); Beth does not have one recorded yet.
- Beth has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Cara.
- A meaning is recorded for Cara; Beth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Beth a "medium" Data Confidence level and Cara a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Beth
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #40 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Cara
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls