Elsie vs Lara
Elsie and Laracompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #8 and Lara #98 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Elsie was ranked #27 and Lara #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elsie was ranked #31 and Lara #131 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2023, Elsie was ranked #35 and Lara #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #55 and Lara #102 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #371 and Lara #144 among girls in Norway.
Elsie and Lara over time
Elsie and Lara appear together in 4 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Elsie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Elsie 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 2010, Elsie moved ahead of Lara in England and Wales · Girls — #124 and #120 the year before became #108 and #124.
- Longest-running competitions
Elsie and Lara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #8 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Elsie #27 in 2024, Lara #51 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Lara in 14.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #8 in 2025, Lara #85 in 2022.
The order changed in 2010: Elsie moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #124 and #120; by 2010 that had become #108 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #8, Lara #98.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1973–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lara in 20.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #55 in 2025, Lara #80 in 2002.
The order changed in 2022: Elsie moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #87 and #85; by 2022 that had become #84 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #55, Lara #102.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2007–2024
Elsie held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Lara in 7.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #27 in 2024, Lara #51 in 2023.
The order changed in 2016: Elsie moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #155 and #144; by 2016 that had become #59 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elsie #27, Lara #110.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2023
Elsie held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lara in 3.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #35 in 2023, Lara #53 in 2013.
The order changed in 2016: Elsie moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #72 and #67; by 2016 that had become #70 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elsie #35, Lara #81.
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 | Elsie | Lara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Shares the root meaning of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath', inherited via the Scots form Elspeth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish, via Elizabeth | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛlsi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Elspeth | 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #8 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #98 (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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Elsie has a recorded origin (Scottish, via Elizabeth); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Elsie and Lara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elsie; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Elsie a "high" Data Confidence level and Lara a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Elsie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #301 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Lara
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #553 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #98 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls