Harper vs Zara
Harper 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Harper was ranked #5 and Zara #47 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #15 and Zara #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #21 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #23 and Zara #73 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #54 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #84 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Harper and Zara over time
Harper and Zara appear together in 5 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Zara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Harper in 2.
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.
Zara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Harper in 2. 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 2015, Harper moved ahead of Zara in England and Wales · Girls — #89 and #67 the year before became #63 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harper and Zara changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2012 and 2024, ending at #84 and #64.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Harper #38 in 2021, Zara #32 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Zara in 13.
Highest recorded here: Harper #22 in 2023, Zara #66 in 2019.
The order changed in 2015: Harper moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #89 and #67; by 2015 that had become #63 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #23, Zara #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 2011–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Zara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Harper #7 in 2024, Zara #23 in 2016.
The order changed in 2013: Harper moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #37 and #27; by 2013 that had become #25 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #15, Zara #47.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Zara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Harper #53 in 2018, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order changed in 2024: Harper moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #70 and #57; by 2024 that had become #63 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #54, Zara #66.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2012–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Zara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Harper #38 in 2021, Zara #32 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #84, Zara #64.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 2012–2023
Harper held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Zara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harper #2 in 2017, Zara #32 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Harper #5, Zara #47.
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 Harper
Pairs where Harper shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harper vs Aurora
Harper and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Aurora · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Daisy
Harper and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Daisy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Poppy
Harper and Poppy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Poppy · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Zara
Pairs where Zara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kirsten vs Zara
In 1997 they stood at #109 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2015 they were #426 and #46.
Kirsten · Zara · 16 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jenna vs Zara
In 1997 they stood at #109 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2022 they were #354 and #46.
Jenna · Zara · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ciara vs Zara
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.
Ciara · Zara · 49 shared years, 1975–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ellen vs Zara
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.
Ellen · Zara · 49 shared years, 1975–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Harper | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harper has a recorded origin (English (occupational surname)); Zara does not have one recorded yet.
- Harper and Zara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Harper; Zara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #73 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls