Maja vs Sara
Maja and Saracompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Maja was ranked #27 and Sara #43 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maja was ranked #425 and Sara #97 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maja was ranked #247 and Sara #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maja was ranked #253 and Sara #161 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maja was ranked #244 and Sara #164 among girls in Scotland.
Maja and Sara over time
Maja and Sara appear together in 4 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Sara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Maja 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.
Maja reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sara 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 2024, Maja moved ahead of Sara in Norway · Girls — #28 and #24 the year before became #22 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maja and Sara changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2006 and 2024, ending at #253 and #161.
- Longest-running competitions
Maja and Sara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 61 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #27 and #43.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Maja #54 in 2009, Sara #78 in 2011.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1960–2025
Maja held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sara in 57.
Highest recorded here: Maja #16 in 2009, Sara #4 in 2013.
The order changed in 2024: Maja moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #28 and #24; by 2024 that had become #22 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maja #27, Sara #43.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maja held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sara in 29.
Highest recorded here: Maja #128 in 2011, Sara #82 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maja #425, Sara #97.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Maja held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sara in 15.
Highest recorded here: Maja #54 in 2009, Sara #78 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maja #247, Sara #127.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2006–2024
Maja held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Maja #106 in 2011, Sara #73 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maja #253, Sara #161.
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 | Maja | Sara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A variant spelling of Sarah, traditionally interpreted as 'lady', 'princess', or 'noblewoman'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛrə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #27 (2025) | Norway · Girls #43 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sara has a recorded origin (Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages); Maja does not have one recorded yet.
- Maja and Sara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sara; Maja doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Maja
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #444 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1960–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1960–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #27 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Sara
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1947–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1947–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #43 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls