Alexandra vs Mary
Alexandra and Marycompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Alexandra was ranked #37 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Alexandra was ranked #71 and Mary #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #141 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #253 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #176 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #212 and Mary #518 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #215 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Alexandra and Mary over time
Alexandra and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 187 years of shared records. Alexandra held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mary 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.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alexandra 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Alexandra moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #82 and #79 the year before became #51 and #95.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexandra and Mary changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #253 and #134.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Alexandra and Mary averaged 37.4 places apart, ending at #253 and #134.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexandra and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 58 years, from 1952 to 2025, ending at #212 and #518.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alexandra #38 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Mary in 60.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #67 in 1998, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #141, Mary #112.
Norway · Girls58 shared years, 1952–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Mary in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #70 in 2004, Mary #82 in 1952.
The order changed in 1983: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #193 and #174; by 1983 that had become #160 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #212, Mary #518.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexandra held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mary in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #38 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexandra #215, Mary #337.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexandra held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Mary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #45 in 1997, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Mary moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #162 and #201; by 2023 that had become #264 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexandra #253, Mary #134.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1969–2008
Alexandra held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Mary in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #51 in 1980, Mary #55 in 1969.
The order changed in 1980: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #82 and #79; by 1980 that had become #51 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Alexandra #71, Mary #99.
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 | Alexandra | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 4 | 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexandra has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Alexandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #400 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2015
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1969–2015).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #212 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls