Ellen vs Zara
Ellen 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, Ellen was ranked #541 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Zara #69 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #208 and Zara #490 among girls in Norway.
Ellen and Zara over time
Ellen and Zara appear together in 4 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2003, Zara moved ahead of Ellen in England and Wales · Girls — #98 and #100 the year before became #103 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ellen and Zara averaged 45.8 places apart, ending at #150 and #64.
- Mirrored each other
Over 49 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Zara rose about as far as Ellen fell — from #89 and #503 in 1975 to #166 and #66 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Zara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 33 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #208 and #490.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1975–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Zara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order changed in 2016: Zara moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #56 and #69; by 2016 that had become #64 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Zara #66.
Norway · Girls33 shared years, 1965–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Zara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 1965, Zara #260 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #208, Zara #490.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Zara in 22.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Zara #66 in 2019.
The order changed in 2003: Zara moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #98 and #100; by 2003 that had become #103 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Zara #69.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Zara in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Zara #32 in 2007.
The order changed in 2006: Zara moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #37 and #44; by 2006 that had become #45 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, 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 | Ellen | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Ellen and Zara both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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