Jessica vs Tara
Jessica and Taracompared 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 1999, Jessica was ranked #1 and Tara #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Jessica was ranked #10 and Tara #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jessica was ranked #48 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Jessica was ranked #60 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #139 and Tara #444 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #141 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #474 and Tara #300 among girls in Norway.
Jessica and Tara over time
Jessica and Tara appear together in 6 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Jessica held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Tara in 0.
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.
Tara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Jessica 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Jessica moved ahead of Tara in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #44 and #42 the year before became #21 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jessica and Tara changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1973 and 2025, ending at #474 and #300.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jessica and Tara averaged 55.6 places apart, ending at #10 and #99.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Norway · Girls, Tara rose about as far as Jessica fell — from #310 and #613 in 1973 to #474 and #300 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jessica and Tara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #139 and #444.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Jessica #1 in 1984, Tara #20 in 1985.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Tara in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #12 in 1995, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1990: Jessica moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #44 and #42; by 1990 that had become #21 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #141, Tara #166.
Norway · Girls46 shared years, 1973–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Tara in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #143 in 2010, Tara #219 in 2006.
The order changed in 2018: Tara moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #329 and #363; by 2018 that had become #336 and #251.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #474, Tara #300.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 2005, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #139, Tara #444.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Jessica held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #4 in 2008, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jessica #60, Tara #178.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1983–2007
Jessica held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1984, Tara #20 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Jessica #10, Tara #99.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1984–1999
Jessica held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1991, Tara #64 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Jessica #1, Tara #99.
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 | Jessica | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Coined by William Shakespeare for his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, where it belongs to Shylock's daughter — likely based on the biblical name Iscah, also spelled Jescha/Jischa in some translations of Shakespeare's time. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛs.ɪ.kə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #139 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jessica has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage); Tara does not have one recorded yet.
- Jessica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tara.
- A meaning is recorded for Jessica; Tara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jessica
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #471 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #444 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls