Jane vs Sara
Jane 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 2013, Jane was ranked #576 and Sara #4 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Jane was ranked #96 and Sara #64 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Jane was ranked #93 and Sara #70 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Sara #97 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Sara #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #288 and Sara #161 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Jane and Sara over time
Jane and Sara appear together in 5 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Sara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jane 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.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Sara 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 1982, Sara moved ahead of Jane in New Zealand · Girls — #54 and #72 the year before became #93 and #70.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Sara changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #288 and #161.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Jane and Sara averaged 56.6 places apart, ending at #213 and #127.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sara rose about as far as Jane fell — from #235 and #385 in 1947 to #576 and #4 in 2013.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Sara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 54 years, from 1947 to 2013, ending at #576 and #4.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Sara in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jane #59 in 1964, Sara #78 in 2011.
The order changed in 2007: Sara moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #94 and #107; by 2007 that had become #97 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Sara #127.
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1947–2013
Jane held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sara in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #73 in 1960, Sara #4 in 2013.
The order changed in 1977: Sara moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #130 and #138; by 1977 that had become #136 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jane #576, Sara #4.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sara in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Sara #82 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Sara #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sara in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Sara #73 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #288, Sara #161.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1977–1988
Jane held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jane #44 in 1977, Sara #44 in 1986.
The order changed in 1982: Sara moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #54 and #72; by 1982 that had become #93 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jane #96, Sara #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 | Jane | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈsɛrə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #43 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Jane and Sara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sara; Jane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #43 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls