Kara vs Maebh
Kara and Maebhcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Kara was ranked #208 and Maebh #361 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kara was ranked #413 and Maebh #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Kara was ranked #813 and Maebh #4056 among girls in England and Wales.
Kara and Maebh over time
Kara and Maebh appear together in 3 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Kara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Maebh in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 2017, Kara moved ahead of Maebh in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #217 and #204 the year before became #178 and #205.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kara and Maebh changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1979 and 2025, ending at #413 and #483.
- Longest-running competitions
Kara and Maebh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #413 and #483.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Kara #93 in 2006, Maebh #203 in 2006.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1979–2025
Kara held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Maebh in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kara #165 in 2015, Maebh #201 in 2009.
The order changed in 2017: Kara moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #217 and #204; by 2017 that had become #178 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kara #413, Maebh #483.
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 2004–2023
Kara held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maebh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kara #197 in 2009, Maebh #2659 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kara #813, Maebh #4056.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1999–2018
Kara held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Maebh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kara #93 in 2006, Maebh #203 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Kara #208, Maebh #361.
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 | Kara | Maebh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #483 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kara has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Maebh.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Kara
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #396 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Maebh
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #420 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1979–2025
Highest recorded position: #201 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1979–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls