Erica vs Sara
Erica and Saracompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Erica was ranked #434 and Sara #43 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Erica was ranked #585 and Sara #110 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Erica was ranked #736 and Sara #135 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Erica was ranked #541 and Sara #164 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Erica was ranked #418 and Sara #183 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Erica and Sara over time
Erica and Sara appear together in 4 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Sara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Erica in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Erica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sara in 1. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Erica and Sara changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2024, ending at #736 and #135.
- Longest-running competitions
Erica and Sara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #585 and #110.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2024
Erica held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sara in 52.
Highest recorded here: Erica #81 in 1998, Sara #78 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Erica #736, Sara #135.
Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1967–2025
Erica held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sara in 52.
Highest recorded here: Erica #190 in 2006, Sara #4 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erica #434, Sara #43.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Erica held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sara in 30.
Highest recorded here: Erica #297 in 2000, Sara #82 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erica #585, Sara #110.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2022
Erica held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sara in 16.
Highest recorded here: Erica #178 in 2013, Sara #73 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Erica #418, Sara #183.
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 | Erica | Sara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A variant spelling of Sarah, traditionally interpreted as 'lady', 'princess', or 'noblewoman'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛrə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #434 (2025) | Norway · Girls #43 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sara has a recorded origin (Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages); Erica does not have one recorded yet.
- Erica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sara.
- A meaning is recorded for Sara; Erica doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Erica
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 recorded1966–2024
Highest recorded position: #81 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1966–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #585 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sara
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1947–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1947–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls