Namewise

Ruby vs Tamara

Ruby 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2018, Ruby was ranked #29 and Tamara #434 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1999, Ruby was ranked #31 and Tamara #98 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ruby was ranked #34 and Tamara #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ruby was ranked #36 and Tamara #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ruby was ranked #41 and Tamara #1065 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2024, Ruby was ranked #437 and Tamara #516 among girls in Norway.

Ruby and Tamara over time

Ruby and Tamara appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tamara in 0.

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.

Tamara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ruby 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 2006, Ruby moved ahead of Tamara in Northern Ireland · Girls — #286 and #252 the year before became #45 and #384.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ruby and Tamara changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1998 and 2018, ending at #29 and #434.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 31 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ruby rose about as far as Tamara fell — from #515 and #365 in 1991 to #36 and #885 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ruby and Tamara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #36 and #885.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 19912025

    Ruby held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tamara in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Ruby #16 in 2013, Tamara #159 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2000: Ruby moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #245 and #211; by 2000 that had become #227 and #239.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ruby #36, Tamara #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ruby held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tamara in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ruby #1 in 2007, Tamara #116 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ruby #41, Tamara #1065.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 19982018

    Ruby held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Tamara in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ruby #18 in 2011, Tamara #197 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2006: Ruby moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #286 and #252; by 2006 that had become #45 and #384.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Ruby #29, Tamara #434.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ruby, Tamara
FieldRubyTamara
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningTaken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century.Not yet recorded
OriginEnglish, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈruːbi/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ruby has a recorded origin (English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')); Tamara does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ruby has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Tamara.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ruby; Tamara 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

Ruby

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1991

    First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Tamara

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1975–1996

    Highest recorded position: #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1975–1996).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls