Laura vs Tara
Laura 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, Laura was ranked #27 and Tara #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Laura was ranked #75 and Tara #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #141 and Tara #300 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Laura was ranked #237 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #258 and Tara #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #351 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
Laura and Tara over time
Laura and Tara appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Tara 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.
Tara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Laura 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 2023, Tara moved ahead of Laura in Northern Ireland · Girls — #243 and #266 the year before became #237 and #178.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Tara averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #75 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Tara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 48 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #141 and #300.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Tara in 5.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Tara #166.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1973–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #99 in 2024, Tara #219 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #141, Tara #300.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #258, Tara #547.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Laura held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tara in 1.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order changed in 2023: Tara moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #243 and #266; by 2023 that had become #237 and #178.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Laura #237, Tara #178.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1983–2007
Laura held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Tara #20 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Laura #75, Tara #99.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1984–1999
Laura held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1989, Tara #64 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Laura #27, 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 | Laura | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Tara does not have one recorded yet.
- Laura and Tara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; 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
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
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 #300 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls