Bridget vs Sarah
Bridget and Sarah compared 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 1991, Bridget was ranked #95 and Sarah #2 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bridget was ranked #213 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #407 and Sarah #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Bridget was ranked #845 and Sarah #131 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #790 and Sarah #148 among girls in Scotland.
Bridget and Sarah over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Bridget and Sarah over time
Bridget and Sarah appear together in 4 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Bridget 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.
Sarah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Bridget in 1. 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 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Bridget in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #25 and #33 the year before became #29 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Bridget and Sarah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #845 and #131.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bridget #444 in 1998, Sarah #18 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Bridget held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sarah in 52.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #7 in 1967, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order changed in 1974: Sarah moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #25 and #33; by 1974 that had become #29 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #213, Sarah #66.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 30.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #444 in 1998, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #845, Sarah #131.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1967–1991
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 22.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #45 in 1974, Sarah #1 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Bridget #95, Sarah #2.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1998–2024
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 12.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #282 in 2009, Sarah #7 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bridget #407, Sarah #75.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Bridget
Pairs where Bridget shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Bridget vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2018 they were #188 and #896.
Bridget · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2019 they were #180 and #871.
Bridget · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2021 they were #228 and #883.
Bridget · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Bernadette
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #15 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #718.
Bridget · Bernadette · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Sarah
Pairs where Sarah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #131 and #2138.
Sarah · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #131 and #1454.
Sarah · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Yvonne
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #45 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2016 they were #16 and #868.
Sarah · Yvonne · 51 shared years, 1964–2016 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Bridget | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of the Irish Brighid, with roots in old Celtic 'Brigantī' ('the exalted one'). In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom; the name is also associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint, and with the Scandinavian Birgitta (Saint Birgitta of Sweden). | 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 | Celtic (Irish) | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bridget is recorded with a Celtic (Irish) origin, while Sarah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Bridget and Sarah both have 2 syllables.
- Bridget's recorded meaning differs from Sarah's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bridget
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #845 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #131 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls