Namewise

Cara vs Natasha

Cara and Natashacompared 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 2019, Cara was ranked #26 and Natasha #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Cara was ranked #37 and Natasha #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Cara was ranked #454 and Natasha #1262 among girls in England and Wales.

Cara and Natasha over time

Cara and Natasha appear together in 3 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Natasha held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cara in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Natasha 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 took the other's place near the top

    In Northern Ireland · Girls, Cara moved into the top 50 at #48 in 1999 as Natasha fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1999, Cara moved ahead of Natasha in Northern Ireland · Girls — #78 and #34 the year before became #48 and #51.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Natasha fell — from #344 and #380 in 1966 to #37 and #736 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Cara and Natasha were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1966 to 2024, ending at #37 and #736.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2024

    Cara held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Natasha in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Cara #27 in 2023, Natasha #69 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #37, Natasha #736.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Cara held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Natasha in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Cara #140 in 2001, Natasha #33 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2011: Cara moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #243 and #171; by 2011 that had become #218 and #230.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #454, Natasha #1262.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2019

    Cara held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Natasha in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Cara #19 in 2007, Natasha #34 in 1998.

    The order changed in 1999: Cara moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #78 and #34; by 1999 that had become #48 and #51.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Cara #26, Natasha #336.

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.

Other comparisons involving Natasha

Pairs where Natasha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Cara, Natasha
FieldCaraNatasha
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningGenuinely 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
OriginDisputed — possibly Italian, possibly IrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkɑɹ.ə/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesCaraghNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #52 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Cara has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Italian, possibly Irish); Natasha does not have one recorded yet.
  • Cara has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Natasha.
  • A meaning is recorded for Cara; Natasha 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 Natasha 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Natasha

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1965

    First recorded at #385 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

  2. Highest recorded1971–2005

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1971–2005).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1262 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls