Rachael vs Sara
Rachael and Saracompared 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 1992, Rachael was ranked #79 and Sara #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Rachael was ranked #94 and Sara #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Rachael was ranked #3705 and Sara #110 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Rachael was ranked #747 and Sara #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Rachael was ranked #432 and Sara #190 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Rachael and Sara over time
Rachael and Sara appear together in 5 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Rachael held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sara in 2.
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.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Sara 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2001, Sara moved ahead of Rachael in England and Wales · Girls — #126 and #127 the year before became #151 and #123.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Rachael and Sara changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1977 and 1992, ending at #79 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Rachael and Sara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3705 and #110.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Rachael held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sara in 37.
Highest recorded here: Rachael #56 in 1994, Sara #78 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Rachael #747, Sara #115.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Rachael held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sara in 25.
Highest recorded here: Rachael #77 in 1996, Sara #82 in 2017.
The order changed in 2001: Sara moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #126 and #127; by 2001 that had become #151 and #123.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rachael #3705, Sara #110.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Rachael held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sara in 8.
Highest recorded here: Rachael #25 in 1997, Sara #73 in 2008.
The order changed in 2008: Sara moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #79 and #97; by 2008 that had become #131 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Rachael #432, Sara #190.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1977–1992
Rachael held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Rachael #30 in 1978, Sara #44 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Rachael #79, Sara #89.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1976–2000
Rachael held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Rachael #50 in 1980, Sara #51 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Rachael #94, Sara #98.
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 | Rachael | Sara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A variant spelling of Sarah, traditionally interpreted as 'lady', 'princess', or 'noblewoman'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈsɛrə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025) | Norway · Girls #43 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sara has a recorded origin (Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Rachael and Sara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sara; Rachael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 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 recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sara
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1947–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1947–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls