Laura vs Natasha
Laura and Natashacompared 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 2005, Laura was ranked #69 and Natasha #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Laura was ranked #74 and Natasha #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #105 and Natasha #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Laura was ranked #136 and Natasha #565 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Laura was ranked #157 and Natasha #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #258 and Natasha #1262 among girls in England and Wales.
Laura and Natasha over time
Laura and Natasha appear together in 6 published lists, across 204 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Natasha 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.
Laura reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Natasha 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 1981, Laura moved ahead of Natasha in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #60 and #44 the year before became #35 and #40.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Natasha averaged 18.3 places apart, ending at #74 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Natasha were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1976 to 2008, ending at #74 and #79.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Natasha #33 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1965–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Natasha #69 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #105, Natasha #736.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1970–2015
Laura held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #133 in 1993, Natasha #343 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Laura #136, Natasha #565.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1976–2008
Laura held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Natasha in 5.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Natasha #23 in 1992.
The order changed in 1981: Laura moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #60 and #44; by 1981 that had become #35 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Laura #74, Natasha #79.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Natasha in 4.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Natasha #33 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #258, Natasha #1262.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1978–2005
Laura held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Natasha in 6.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Natasha #13 in 1978.
The order changed in 1984: Laura moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #24 and #15; by 1984 that had become #19 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Laura #69, Natasha #82.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2019
Laura held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Natasha #34 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Laura #157, Natasha #336.
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 | Laura | Natasha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Natasha does not have one recorded yet.
- Laura has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Natasha.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Natasha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Natasha
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1971–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1262 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls