Cara vs Muireann
Cara and Muireanncompared 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, Cara was ranked #33 and Muireann #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Cara was ranked #52 and Muireann #196 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2017, Cara was ranked #256 and Muireann #4763 among girls in England and Wales.
Cara and Muireann over time
Cara and Muireann appear together in 2 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Cara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Muireann 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cara and Muireann changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #52 and #196.
- Longest-running competitions
Cara and Muireann were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 60 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #52 and #196.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Cara held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Muireann in 20.
Highest recorded here: Cara #27 in 2023, Muireann #87 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cara #52, Muireann #196.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2005–2024
Cara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Muireann in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cara #19 in 2007, Muireann #181 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #33, Muireann #253.
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 | Muireann |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Caragh | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #196 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Muireann does not have one recorded yet.
- Cara and Muireann both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Cara; Muireann 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 Muireann 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 #468 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Muireann
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #297 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #87 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #196 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls