Cara vs Kerry
Cara and Kerrycompared 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 2020, Cara was ranked #31 and Kerry #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Cara was ranked #36 and Kerry #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Cara was ranked #454 and Kerry #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Cara and Kerry over time
Cara and Kerry appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Cara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kerry 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.
Kerry 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 1997, Cara moved ahead of Kerry in England and Wales · Girls — #156 and #136 the year before became #156 and #157.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cara and Kerry changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2020, ending at #36 and #834.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Kerry fell — from #357 and #357 in 1968 to #36 and #834 in 2020.
- Longest-running competitions
Cara and Kerry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1968 to 2020, ending at #36 and #834.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #85 and #83 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2020 they were #31 and #397.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1968–2020
Cara held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Kerry in 8.
Highest recorded here: Cara #29 in 2018, Kerry #149 in 2004.
The order changed in 1993: Cara moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #229 and #193; by 1993 that had become #193 and #286.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Cara #36, Kerry #834.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Cara held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kerry in 1.
Highest recorded here: Cara #140 in 2001, Kerry #136 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Cara moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #156 and #136; by 1997 that had become #156 and #157.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #454, Kerry #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2020
Cara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kerry in 1.
Highest recorded here: Cara #19 in 2007, Kerry #82 in 2002.
The order changed in 1998: Cara moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #85 and #83; by 1998 that had become #78 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Cara #31, Kerry #397.
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 | Cara | Kerry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Genuinely dual-sourced: an Italian word meaning 'beloved', or independently an Irish word meaning 'friend' — Behind the Name records both without resolving between them. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɑɹ.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Caragh | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Cara has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish); Kerry does not have one recorded yet.
- Cara and Kerry both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Cara; Kerry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Cara a "high" Data Confidence level and Kerry a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Kerry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 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 recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls