Carys vs Deborah
Carys and Deborahcompared 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 2012, Carys was ranked #383 and Deborah #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Carys was ranked #431 and Deborah #790 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Carys was ranked #651 and Deborah #873 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Carys was ranked #855 and Deborah #708 among girls in England and Wales.
Carys and Deborah over time
Carys and Deborah appear together in 2 published lists, across 38 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carys held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Deborah in 3.
Highest recorded here: Carys #130 in 2004, Deborah #302 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Deborah moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #767 and #801; by 2022 that had become #899 and #857.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carys #855, Deborah #708.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2003–2017
Carys held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Deborah in 7.
Highest recorded here: Carys #511 in 2004, Deborah #232 in 2005.
The order changed in 2017: Carys moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #661 and #536; by 2017 that had become #651 and #873.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Carys #651, Deborah #873.
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 Deborah
Pairs where Deborah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Evelyn
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
Deborah · Evelyn · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Olive
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #72 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #247.
Deborah · Olive · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Paula
Deborah and Paula changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
Deborah · Paula · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Carys | Deborah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #431 (2024) | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Carys does not have one recorded yet.
- Carys has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Deborah.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Carys doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Carys
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #199 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #130 among girls in England and Wales, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #855 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 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 recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls