Saoirse vs Tara
Saoirse and Taracompared 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, Saoirse was ranked #17 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Saoirse was ranked #37 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Saoirse was ranked #196 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Saoirse was ranked #402 and Tara #444 among girls in England and Wales.
Saoirse and Tara over time
Saoirse and Tara appear together in 3 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Saoirse held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Tara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Tara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Saoirse 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 2011, Saoirse moved ahead of Tara in Northern Ireland · Girls — #124 and #77 the year before became #62 and #142.
- Mirrored each other
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Tara fell — from #417 and #67 in 1971 to #17 and #166 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Saoirse and Tara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #402 and #444.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1971–2025
Saoirse held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Tara in 25.
Highest recorded here: Saoirse #12 in 2016, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 2000: Saoirse moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #31 and #29; by 2000 that had become #30 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Saoirse #17, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Saoirse held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Tara in 19.
Highest recorded here: Saoirse #307 in 2020, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2015: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #563 and #535; by 2015 that had become #549 and #560.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Saoirse #402, Tara #444.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Saoirse held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tara in 13.
Highest recorded here: Saoirse #37 in 2023, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order changed in 2011: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #124 and #77; by 2011 that had become #62 and #142.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Saoirse #37, Tara #178.
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 | Saoirse | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Means 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (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
- Saoirse has a recorded origin (Irish); Tara does not have one recorded yet.
- Saoirse and Tara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Saoirse; Tara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
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
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #444 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls