Rebecca vs Zara
Rebecca 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Rebecca was ranked #94 and Zara #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Rebecca was ranked #431 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2011, Rebecca was ranked #85 and Zara #41 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Rebecca was ranked #337 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Rebecca was ranked #141 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Rebecca was ranked #413 and Zara #73 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Rebecca was ranked #485 and Zara #490 among girls in Norway.
Rebecca and Zara over time
Rebecca and Zara appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Rebecca held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Zara in 1.
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.
Rebecca reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Zara 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Zara moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2012 as Rebecca fell out of it to #53, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Zara moved ahead of Rebecca in England and Wales · Girls — #66 and #71 the year before became #77 and #75.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Rebecca and Zara changed places 8 times in Norway · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #485 and #490.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Rebecca and Zara averaged 51.4 places apart, ending at #337 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Rebecca and Zara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #413 and #73.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1975–2025
Rebecca held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Zara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #7 in 1995, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order changed in 2016: Zara moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #62 and #69; by 2016 that had become #75 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rebecca #141, Zara #66.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1965–2025
Rebecca held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Zara in 5.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #55 in 1996, Zara #260 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rebecca #485, Zara #490.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Rebecca held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Zara in 17.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #8 in 1996, Zara #66 in 2019.
The order changed in 2009: Zara moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #66 and #71; by 2009 that had become #77 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rebecca #413, Zara #73.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Rebecca held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Zara in 13.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #2 in 1999, Zara #32 in 2007.
The order changed in 2012: Zara moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #38 and #51; by 2012 that had become #53 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rebecca #337, Zara #64.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1999–2011
Rebecca held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Zara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #15 in 1999, Zara #41 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Zara moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #41 and #61; by 2006 that had become #50 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Rebecca #85, Zara #41.
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 | Rebecca | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /rəˈbɛkə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rebecca has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka); Zara does not have one recorded yet.
- Rebecca has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Zara.
- A meaning is recorded for Rebecca; Zara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Rebecca
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #440 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2008
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1966–2008).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #73 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls