Cara vs Thomasina
Cara and Thomasinacompared 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 2018, Cara was ranked #28 and Thomasina #434 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1990, Cara was ranked #249 and Thomasina #409 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Cara was ranked #454 and Thomasina #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Cara and Thomasina over time
Cara and Thomasina appear together in 2 published lists, across 34 years of shared records. Cara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Thomasina 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.
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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2024
Cara held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Thomasina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cara #151 in 1998, Thomasina #2945 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cara #454, Thomasina #5891.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1968–1990
Cara held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Thomasina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cara #190 in 1974, Thomasina #357 in 1968.
The order changed in 1971: Cara moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #357 and #357; by 1971 that had become #289 and #466.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Cara #249, Thomasina #409.
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 | Thomasina |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| 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); Thomasina does not have one recorded yet.
- Cara has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Thomasina.
- A meaning is recorded for Cara; Thomasina 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 Thomasina 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
Thomasina
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1964–1990
Highest recorded position: #357 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–1990).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls