Layla vs Zara
Layla and Zaracompared 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 2025, Layla was ranked #35 and Zara #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #41 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Layla was ranked #50 and Zara #47 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Layla was ranked #50 and Zara #73 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Layla was ranked #60 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Layla was ranked #91 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Layla and Zara over time
Layla and Zara appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Zara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Layla in 1.
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.
Zara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Layla 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Layla moved into the top 50 at #31 in 2024 as Zara fell out of it to #58, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Layla moved ahead of Zara in England and Wales · Girls — #82 and #70 the year before became #68 and #71.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Layla and Zara changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 2010 and 2023, ending at #50 and #47.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Layla and Zara averaged 45.7 places apart, ending at #50 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Layla and Zara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #50 and #73.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1983–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Zara in 20.
Highest recorded here: Layla #44 in 2016, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order changed in 2025: Layla moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #69 and #65; by 2025 that had become #60 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #60, Zara #66.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Zara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Layla #29 in 2012, Zara #66 in 2019.
The order changed in 2008: Layla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #82 and #70; by 2008 that had become #68 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #50, Zara #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Layla held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Zara in 19.
Highest recorded here: Layla #24 in 2020, Zara #23 in 2016.
The order changed in 2024: Layla moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #47 and #35; by 2024 that had become #31 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Layla #35, Zara #47.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Layla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Zara in 20.
Highest recorded here: Layla #62 in 2019, Zara #32 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Layla #91, Zara #64.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2010–2023
Layla held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Zara in 8.
Highest recorded here: Layla #29 in 2022, Zara #32 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Layla #50, Zara #47.
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 | Layla | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Means 'night' in Arabic. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Arabic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleɪlə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (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
- Layla has a recorded origin (Arabic); Zara does not have one recorded yet.
- Layla and Zara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Layla; Zara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Layla
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Zara
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #559 among girls in Norway in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2016 (recorded 2001–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls