Mariam vs Sarah
Mariam 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2017, Mariam was ranked #99 and Sarah #46 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Mariam was ranked #304 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Mariam was ranked #233 and Sarah #115 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Mariam was ranked #249 and Sarah #130 among girls in England and Wales.
Mariam and Sarah over time
Mariam and Sarah appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mariam 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 3 of those lists, and Mariam 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Mariam and Sarah were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 63 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #233 and #115.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1960–2025
Mariam held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sarah in 60.
Highest recorded here: Mariam #166 in 2011, Sarah #35 in 2007.
The order changed in 1968: Sarah moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #330 and #524; by 1968 that had become #556 and #405.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mariam #233, Sarah #115.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mariam held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Mariam #172 in 2009, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mariam #249, Sarah #130.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1994–2025
Mariam held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 27.
Highest recorded here: Mariam #174 in 2003, Sarah #1 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mariam #304, 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.
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 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 2024 they were #130 and #1743.
Sarah · Shannon · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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
- Sarah vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #130 and #934.
Sarah · Danielle · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Mariam | 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 | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #233 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Mariam does not have one recorded yet.
- Mariam and Sarah both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sarah; Mariam doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Mariam
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #430 among girls in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2005–2017
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008 (recorded 2005–2017).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #233 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #115 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls