Jeanette vs Sara
Jeanette 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 2014, Jeanette was ranked #522 and Sara #13 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jeanette was ranked #5891 and Sara #97 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1992, Jeanette was ranked #338 and Sara #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Jeanette and Sara over time
Jeanette and Sara appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Sara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jeanette in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jeanette reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Girls, Sara moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1989 as Jeanette fell out of it to #52, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Sara moved ahead of Jeanette in Norway · Girls — #46 and #52 the year before became #52 and #43.
- Mirrored each other
Over 56 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sara rose about as far as Jeanette fell — from #328 and #419 in 1956 to #522 and #13 in 2014.
- Longest-running competitions
Jeanette and Sara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 56 years, from 1956 to 2014, ending at #522 and #13.
List by list
Norway · Girls56 shared years, 1956–2014
Jeanette held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Sara in 25.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #23 in 1986, Sara #7 in 2001.
The order changed in 1989: Sara moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #46 and #52; by 1989 that had become #52 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jeanette #522, Sara #13.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1964–1992
Jeanette held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sara in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #162 in 1964, Sara #83 in 1987.
The order changed in 1965: Sara moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #162 and #179; by 1965 that had become #198 and #172.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jeanette #338, Sara #115.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1996–2024
Jeanette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sara in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #1914 in 1996, Sara #87 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jeanette #5891, Sara #97.
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 | Jeanette | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) | Norway · Girls #43 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Jeanette does not have one recorded yet.
- Jeanette has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sara.
- A meaning is recorded for Sara; Jeanette doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jeanette
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1949–2014
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in Norway, in 1986 (recorded 1949–2014).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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