Molly vs Tara
Molly and Taracompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Molly was ranked #20 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Molly was ranked #27 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Molly was ranked #55 and Tara #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Molly was ranked #68 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1999, Molly was ranked #75 and Tara #99 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Molly was ranked #104 and Tara #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Molly was ranked #217 and Tara #300 among girls in Norway.
Molly and Tara over time
Molly and Tara appear together in 5 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tara in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Tara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Molly 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 Northern Ireland · Girls, Molly moved into the top 50 at #27 in 2001 as Tara fell out of it to #52, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Molly moved ahead of Tara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #54 and #51 the year before became #35 and #62.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Molly and Tara changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1996 and 2007, ending at #55 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Molly and Tara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #20 and #166.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Molly held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Tara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2019, Tara #29 in 1999.
The order changed in 2003: Molly moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #33 and #32; by 2003 that had become #37 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #20, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Molly held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Molly #15 in 2001, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #104, Tara #547.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Molly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2007, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order changed in 2001: Molly moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #47 and #45; by 2001 that had become #27 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Molly #27, Tara #178.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Molly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Tara in 5.
Highest recorded here: Molly #167 in 2011, Tara #219 in 2006.
The order changed in 2009: Molly moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #346 and #283; by 2009 that had become #215 and #360.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #217, Tara #300.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1996–2007
Molly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Tara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Molly #32 in 2005, Tara #51 in 2001.
The order changed in 2004: Molly moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #54 and #51; by 2004 that had become #35 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Molly #55, Tara #99.
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 | Molly | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Molly and Tara both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Molly
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #300 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls