JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

JavaScript

itemsArray = [ 
    ['Anne', 'a'],
    ['Bob', 'b'],
    ['Henry', 'b'],
    ['Andrew', 'd'],
    ['Jason', 'c'],
    ['Thomas', 'b']
];

sortingArr = [ 'b', 'c', 'b', 'b', 'a', 'd' ];

var sortedArray = [];
for(var i=0; i < sortingArr.length; i++) {
    var found = false;
    for(var j=0; j < itemsArray.length && !found; j++) {
        if(itemsArray[j][1] == sortingArr[i]) {
            sortedArray.push(itemsArray[j]);
            itemsArray.splice(j,1);
            found = true; 
        }
    }
}
alert(sortedArray.join(','));