Nicola vs Tamara
Nicola and Tamaracompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Nicola was ranked #42 and Tamara #80 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Nicola was ranked #94 and Tamara #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Nicola was ranked #180 and Tamara #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #790 and Tamara #541 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Nicola was ranked #628 and Tamara #700 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #2253 and Tamara #1065 among girls in England and Wales.
Nicola and Tamara over time
Nicola and Tamara appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tamara 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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Tamara 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
Nicola and Tamara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1971 to 2020, ending at #628 and #700.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicola #87 in 1996, Tamara #116 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1971–2020
Nicola held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Tamara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Tamara #159 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Nicola #628, Tamara #700.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Tamara in 8.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Tamara #116 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Tamara moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #485 and #537; by 2017 that had become #715 and #593.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #2253, Tamara #1065.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2011
Nicola held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Tamara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Tamara #147 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Nicola #180, Tamara #444.
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 | Nicola | Tamara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Tamara does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicola and Tamara both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Tamara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Tamara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #386 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1975–1996
Highest recorded position: #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1975–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls