Lara vs Lily
Lara and Lilycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #102 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #98 and Lily #3 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #131 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #110 and Lily #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2023, Lara was ranked #81 and Lily #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #144 and Lily #123 among girls in Norway.
Lara and Lily over time
Lara and Lily appear together in 5 published lists, across 142 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Lara in 0.
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.
Lara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lily in 2. 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 2006, Lily moved ahead of Lara in Northern Ireland · Girls — #80 and #114 the year before became #61 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lara and Lily changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1994 and 2025, ending at #144 and #123.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lara and Lily averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #81 and #7.
- Longest-running competitions
Lara and Lily were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1981 to 2025, ending at #102 and #1.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Lara #129 in 2022, Lily #90 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1981–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lily in 25.
Highest recorded here: Lara #80 in 2002, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order changed in 2003: Lily moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #80 and #85; by 2003 that had become #103 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #102, Lily #1.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Lara #85 in 2022, Lily #3 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lara #98, Lily #3.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024
Lara held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lily in 20.
Highest recorded here: Lara #51 in 2023, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Lily moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #80 and #114; by 2006 that had become #61 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lara #110, Lily #6.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1994–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Lily in 16.
Highest recorded here: Lara #129 in 2022, Lily #90 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Lily moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #129 and #142; by 2023 that had become #144 and #106.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #144, Lily #123.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1999–2023
Lara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 25.
Highest recorded here: Lara #25 in 2002, Lily #7 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lara #81, Lily #7.
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 | Lily |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the English word for the lily flower. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English (flower name) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɪli/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Lil, Lilah, Lillie, Lilly, Lilian |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #102 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #1 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Lily has a recorded origin (English (flower name)); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Lara and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Lara a "medium" Data Confidence level and Lily a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Lily
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #471 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1981–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls