Lara vs Lena
Lara and Lenacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #98 and Lena #283 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #102 and Lena #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #110 and Lena #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #131 and Lena #207 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #144 and Lena #294 among girls in Norway.
Lara and Lena over time
Lara and Lena appear together in 4 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Lara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lena 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.
Lena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lara 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 2020, Lara moved ahead of Lena in Norway · Girls — #174 and #131 the year before became #132 and #133.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lara and Lena changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2025, ending at #102 and #266.
- Longest-running competitions
Lara and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 42 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #144 and #294.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1968–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Lena in 23.
Highest recorded here: Lara #80 in 2002, Lena #71 in 2012.
The order changed in 2018: Lara moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #91 and #85; by 2018 that had become #91 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #102, Lena #266.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1968–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lena in 36.
Highest recorded here: Lara #129 in 2022, Lena #23 in 1975.
The order changed in 2020: Lara moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #174 and #131; by 2020 that had become #132 and #133.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #144, Lena #294.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lara held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Lena in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lara #85 in 2022, Lena #128 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lara #98, Lena #283.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2001–2024
Lara held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Lena in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lara #51 in 2023, Lena #131 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lara #110, Lena #288.
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 | Lara | Lena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.na/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #102 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (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
- Lena has a recorded origin (Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Lara and Lena both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Lara
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #553 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #144 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Lena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #346 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1969 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls