Tamara vs Vanessa
Tamara and Vanessacompared 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 1996, Tamara was ranked #95 and Vanessa #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Tamara was ranked #80 and Vanessa #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Tamara was ranked #516 and Vanessa #206 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Tamara was ranked #541 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Tamara was ranked #434 and Vanessa #361 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Tamara was ranked #885 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Tamara was ranked #1065 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Tamara and Vanessa over time
Tamara and Vanessa appear together in 4 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Vanessa held the stronger position in more years in 4 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.
Vanessa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Tamara 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Tamara and Vanessa changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1975 and 1996, ending at #95 and #75.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Tamara and Vanessa averaged 33.5 places apart, ending at #95 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Tamara and Vanessa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 42 years, from 1974 to 2024, ending at #516 and #206.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Tamara #116 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1971–2025
Tamara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Vanessa in 45.
Highest recorded here: Tamara #159 in 1998, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Tamara #885, Vanessa #413.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1974–2024
Tamara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Vanessa in 37.
Highest recorded here: Tamara #363 in 1974, Vanessa #136 in 2019.
The order changed in 1987: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #401 and #493; by 1987 that had become #508 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Tamara #516, Vanessa #206.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Tamara held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Vanessa in 19.
Highest recorded here: Tamara #116 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #325 and #369; by 2006 that had become #394 and #306.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Tamara #1065, Vanessa #533.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1975–1996
Tamara held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Vanessa in 17.
Highest recorded here: Tamara #52 in 1992, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Tamara #95, Vanessa #75.
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 | Tamara | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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 #885 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Tamara and Vanessa both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Tamara
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1975–1996
Highest recorded position: #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1975–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls