Ciara vs Zara
Ciara and Zaracompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ciara was ranked #215 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ciara was ranked #127 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ciara was ranked #106 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ciara was ranked #722 and Zara #69 among girls in England and Wales.
Ciara and Zara over time
Ciara and Zara appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Zara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ciara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ciara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Zara 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Zara moved ahead of Ciara in England and Wales · Girls — #124 and #141 the year before became #131 and #123.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ciara and Zara changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1975 and 2025, ending at #106 and #66.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ciara and Zara averaged 58.1 places apart, ending at #127 and #64.
- Mirrored each other
Over 49 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Zara rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #49 and #503 in 1975 to #106 and #66 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ciara and Zara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #106 and #66.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1975–2025
Ciara held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Zara in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ciara #2 in 1998, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order changed in 2023: Zara moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #74 and #88; by 2023 that had become #95 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ciara #106, Zara #66.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ciara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Zara in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ciara #124 in 1998, Zara #66 in 2019.
The order changed in 1999: Zara moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #124 and #141; by 1999 that had become #131 and #123.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ciara #722, Zara #69.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ciara held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Zara in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ciara #18 in 1997, Zara #32 in 2007.
The order changed in 2006: Zara moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #34 and #44; by 2006 that had become #34 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ciara #127, Zara #64.
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 | Ciara | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Feminine form of Ciar; traditionally interpreted as 'dark' or 'black', historically describing hair or complexion. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɪərə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #106 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ciara has a recorded origin (Irish); Zara does not have one recorded yet.
- Ciara and Zara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ciara; Zara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Ciara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #146 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Zara
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #559 among girls in Norway in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2016 (recorded 2001–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls