Nora vs Saoirse
Nora and Saoirsecompared 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, Nora was ranked #76 and Saoirse #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nora was ranked #44 and Saoirse #37 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nora was ranked #72 and Saoirse #196 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nora was ranked #75 and Saoirse #402 among girls in England and Wales.
Nora and Saoirse over time
Nora and Saoirse appear together in 3 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Saoirse held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nora in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Saoirse reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Nora 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 1993, Saoirse moved ahead of Nora in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #152 and #164 the year before became #164 and #129.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nora and Saoirse changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #75 and #402.
- Mirrored each other
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Nora fell — from #47 and #417 in 1971 to #76 and #17 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Nora and Saoirse were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #75 and #402.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Nora #44 in 2024, Saoirse #37 in 2023.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1971–2025
Nora held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Saoirse in 33.
Highest recorded here: Nora #47 in 1971, Saoirse #12 in 2016.
The order changed in 1993: Saoirse moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #152 and #164; by 1993 that had become #164 and #129.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nora #76, Saoirse #17.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nora held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Saoirse in 13.
Highest recorded here: Nora #75 in 2025, Saoirse #307 in 2020.
The order changed in 2012: Nora moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #702 and #534; by 2012 that had become #580 and #738.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nora #75, Saoirse #402.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Nora held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Saoirse in 17.
Highest recorded here: Nora #44 in 2024, Saoirse #37 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nora #44, Saoirse #37.
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 | Nora | Saoirse |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of the names Honora (linked to Latin 'honor') or Eleanor — not an independently rooted name; Behind the Name does not specify which is the 'true' source for any given historical bearer. | Means 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning. |
| Origin | English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɔrə/ | /ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/ |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #3 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nora is recorded with a English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor origin, while Saoirse is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Nora and Saoirse both have 2 syllables.
- Nora's recorded meaning differs from Saoirse's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Nora
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Saoirse
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls