Nancy vs Tara
Nancy 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nancy was ranked #81 and Tara #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Nancy was ranked #99 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Nancy was ranked #126 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nancy was ranked #260 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Nancy was ranked #482 and Tara #353 among girls in Norway.
Nancy and Tara over time
Nancy and Tara appear together in 4 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 3 of those lists, Nancy 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 2019, Nancy moved ahead of Tara in Northern Ireland · Girls — #273 and #179 the year before became #119 and #298.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nancy and Tara changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1973 and 2011, ending at #482 and #353.
- Longest-running competitions
Nancy and Tara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #99 and #166.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1968–2025
Nancy held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Tara in 47.
Highest recorded here: Nancy #99 in 2025, Tara #29 in 1999.
The order changed in 2024: Nancy moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #148 and #114; by 2024 that had become #135 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nancy #99, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nancy held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Tara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Nancy #64 in 2018, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Nancy moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #231 and #229; by 2006 that had become #220 and #263.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nancy #81, Tara #547.
Norway · Girls27 shared years, 1973–2011
Nancy held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Tara in 15.
Highest recorded here: Nancy #213 in 1973, Tara #237 in 1997.
The order changed in 1995: Tara moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #535 and #602; by 1995 that had become #592 and #286.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Nancy #482, Tara #353.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2004–2023
Nancy held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Tara in 8.
Highest recorded here: Nancy #95 in 2020, Tara #49 in 2004.
The order changed in 2019: Nancy moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #273 and #179; by 2019 that had become #119 and #298.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Nancy #126, Tara #178.
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 | Nancy | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (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
- Nancy and Tara both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Nancy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #249 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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