Cara vs Mikayla
Cara and Mikaylacompared 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 2015, Cara was ranked #20 and Mikayla #312 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Cara was ranked #37 and Mikayla #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Cara was ranked #196 and Mikayla #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Cara was ranked #454 and Mikayla #980 among girls in England and Wales.
Cara and Mikayla over time
Cara and Mikayla appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Cara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mikayla in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Mikayla fell — from #192 and #534 in 1996 to #37 and #898 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cara held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mikayla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cara #140 in 2001, Mikayla #681 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #454, Mikayla #980.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cara held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mikayla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cara #27 in 2023, Mikayla #232 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #37, Mikayla #898.
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 Cara
Pairs where Cara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ashleigh vs Cara
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #85 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2016 they were #440 and #23.
Ashleigh · Cara · 16 shared years, 1997–2016 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jodie vs Cara
In 1997 they stood at #77 and #85 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2021 they were #446 and #36.
Jodie · Cara · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kerry vs Cara
In 1997 they stood at #83 and #85 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2020 they were #397 and #31.
Kerry · Cara · 18 shared years, 1997–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leanne vs Cara
In 1997 they stood at #93 and #85 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2010 they were #366 and #23.
Leanne · Cara · 12 shared years, 1997–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Cara | Mikayla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Caragh | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Mikayla does not have one recorded yet.
- Cara has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Mikayla.
- A meaning is recorded for Cara; Mikayla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Cara a "high" Data Confidence level and Mikayla 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
Mikayla
Popularity journey
First recorded1994
First recorded at #51 among girls in New Zealand in 1994 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1994–2013
Highest recorded position: #42 among girls in New Zealand, in 1997 (recorded 1994–2013).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #980 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls