Maddison vs Sarah
Maddison and Sarahcompared 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 2019, Maddison was ranked #43 and Sarah #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maddison was ranked #226 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2020, Maddison was ranked #87 and Sarah #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maddison was ranked #169 and Sarah #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maddison was ranked #130 and Sarah #148 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Maddison was ranked #154 and Sarah #131 among girls in England and Wales.
Maddison and Sarah over time
Maddison and Sarah appear together in 5 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Maddison 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.
Sarah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Maddison in none. 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 Zealand · Girls, Maddison moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2013 as Sarah fell out of it to #75, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Maddison moved ahead of Sarah in New Zealand · Girls — #49 and #42 the year before became #37 and #75.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maddison and Sarah changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #154 and #131.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Maddison and Sarah averaged 55.3 places apart, ending at #154 and #131.
- Longest-running competitions
Maddison and Sarah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #154 and #131.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Maddison held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sarah in 19.
Highest recorded here: Maddison #63 in 2005, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maddison #154, Sarah #131.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1992–2020
Maddison held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sarah in 27.
Highest recorded here: Maddison #13 in 1998, Sarah #2 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Maddison #87, Sarah #73.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1995–2019
Maddison held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sarah in 12.
Highest recorded here: Maddison #27 in 2008, Sarah #2 in 1995.
The order changed in 2013: Maddison moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #49 and #42; by 2013 that had become #37 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Maddison #43, Sarah #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Maddison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 21.
Highest recorded here: Maddison #123 in 2009, Sarah #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maddison #169, Sarah #75.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2025
Maddison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 21.
Highest recorded here: Maddison #183 in 2023, Sarah #1 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maddison #226, Sarah #66.
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 | Maddison | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | England and Wales · Girls #154 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sarah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Maddison does not have one recorded yet.
- Maddison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sarah.
- A meaning is recorded for Sarah; Maddison 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
Maddison
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2020
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1998 (recorded 1992–2020).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #154 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