Lauren vs Sarah
Lauren and Sarah compared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Lauren was ranked #97 and Sarah #33 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2012, Lauren was ranked #93 and Sarah #42 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lauren was ranked #118 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Lauren was ranked #264 and Sarah #79 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lauren was ranked #1166 and Sarah #131 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lauren was ranked #638 and Sarah #148 among girls in Scotland.
Lauren and Sarah over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Lauren and Sarah over time
Lauren and Sarah appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lauren 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.
Sarah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lauren 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 2012, Sarah moved ahead of Lauren in England and Wales · Girls — #85 and #90 the year before became #103 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lauren and Sarah averaged 20.8 places apart, ending at #97 and #33.
- Mirrored each other
Over 49 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lauren rose about as far as Sarah fell — from #466 and #34 in 1971 to #118 and #66 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Lauren and Sarah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1166 and #131.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lauren #5 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1971–2025
Lauren held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 49.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #6 in 2001, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lauren #118, Sarah #66.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1977–2012
Lauren held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 35.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #5 in 1984, Sarah #2 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Lauren #97, Sarah #33.
New Zealand · Girls34 shared years, 1978–2012
Lauren held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 34.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #19 in 1990, Sarah #1 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Lauren #93, Sarah #42.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lauren held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sarah in 14.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #5 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Sarah moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #85 and #90; by 2012 that had become #103 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lauren #1166, Sarah #131.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Lauren held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sarah in 22.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #2 in 2001, Sarah #5 in 2002.
The order changed in 2002: Sarah moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #2 and #7; by 2002 that had become #6 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lauren #264, Sarah #79.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Lauren
Pairs where Lauren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Emily vs Lauren
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #5 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #1166.
Emily · Lauren · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Hannah vs Lauren
In 1996 they stood at #6 and #5 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #105 and #1166.
Hannah · Lauren · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lauren vs Lucy
In 1996 they stood at #5 and #15 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1166 and #143.
Lauren · Lucy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rebecca vs Lauren
In 1996 they stood at #8 and #5 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #413 and #1166.
Rebecca · Lauren · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Sarah
Pairs where Sarah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #131 and #2138.
Sarah · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #131 and #1454.
Sarah · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Yvonne
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #45 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2016 they were #16 and #868.
Sarah · Yvonne · 51 shared years, 1964–2016 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Lauren | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A variant/feminine form of Laurence, tracing to the place name Laurentum. First popularized as a feminine name by actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Jean Perske). | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ən/ | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #118 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lauren is recorded with a Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name origin, while Sarah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Lauren and Sarah both have 2 syllables.
- Lauren's recorded meaning differs from Sarah's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Lauren
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — 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: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1166 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #131 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls