Namewise

Molly vs Zara

Molly 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Molly was ranked #20 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Molly was ranked #28 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2021, Molly was ranked #100 and Zara #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Molly was ranked #68 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Molly was ranked #69 and Zara #47 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Molly was ranked #120 and Zara #73 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Molly was ranked #217 and Zara #490 among girls in Norway.

Molly and Zara over time

Molly and Zara appear together in 6 published lists, across 153 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Zara in 1.

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.

Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Zara 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Zara moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2007 as Molly fell out of it to #55, having been #42 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2021, Zara moved ahead of Molly in England and Wales · Girls — #54 and #73 the year before became #73 and #69.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Molly and Zara changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 2003 and 2025, ending at #217 and #490.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Molly and Zara averaged 50.2 places apart, ending at #120 and #73.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Molly and Zara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #120 and #73.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Molly #18 in 2007, Zara #32 in 2007.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025

    Molly held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Zara in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2019, Zara #43 in 2019.

    The order changed in 1995: Molly moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #187 and #174; by 1995 that had become #119 and #232.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #20, Zara #66.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Molly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Zara in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #15 in 2001, Zara #66 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2021: Zara moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #54 and #73; by 2021 that had become #73 and #69.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #120, Zara #73.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Molly held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Zara in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2007, Zara #32 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Molly #28, Zara #64.

  • Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025

    Molly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Zara in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #167 in 2011, Zara #260 in 2019.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #217, Zara #490.

  • New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1999–2023

    Molly held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Zara in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #31 in 2003, Zara #32 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2011: Zara moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #38 and #59; by 2011 that had become #53 and #41.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Molly #69, Zara #47.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 2001–2021

    Molly held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Zara in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Molly #32 in 2005, Zara #23 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2007: Zara moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #42 and #65; by 2007 that had become #55 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Molly #100, Zara #29.

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 Molly

Pairs where Molly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Zara

Pairs where Zara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Molly, Zara
FieldMollyZara
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Molly and Zara 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Zara

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2001–2025

    Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2016 (recorded 2001–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #73 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls