Nessa vs Zara
Nessa 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nessa was ranked #337 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Nessa was ranked #239 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nessa was ranked #3695 and Zara #69 among girls in England and Wales.
Nessa and Zara over time
Nessa and Zara appear together in 2 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Zara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nessa 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 49 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Zara rose about as far as Nessa fell — from #127 and #503 in 1975 to #239 and #66 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Nessa and Zara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #239 and #66.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1975–2025
Nessa held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Zara in 43.
Highest recorded here: Nessa #127 in 1975, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order changed in 1984: Zara moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #232 and #298; by 1984 that had become #365 and #221.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nessa #239, Zara #66.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2007–2024
Nessa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Zara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Nessa #2163 in 2020, Zara #67 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nessa #3695, Zara #69.
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 Zara
Pairs where Zara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kirsten vs Zara
In 1997 they stood at #109 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2015 they were #426 and #46.
Kirsten · Zara · 16 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jenna vs Zara
In 1997 they stood at #109 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2022 they were #354 and #46.
Jenna · Zara · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ciara vs Zara
Over 49 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Zara rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #49 and #503 in 1975 to #106 and #66 in 2025.
Ciara · Zara · 49 shared years, 1975–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ellen vs Zara
Over 49 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Zara rose about as far as Ellen fell — from #89 and #503 in 1975 to #166 and #66 in 2025.
Ellen · Zara · 49 shared years, 1975–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Nessa | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (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
- Nessa and Zara both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Nessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Zara
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2016 (recorded 2001–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls