Allison vs Mary
Allison 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1980, Allison was ranked #85 and Mary #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #631 and Mary #105 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #3318 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Allison and Mary over time
Allison and Mary appear together in 3 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Allison in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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, and Allison 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 1980, Allison moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #91 and #79 the year before became #85 and #95.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allison and Mary changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1965 and 1980, ending at #85 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Allison and Mary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #631 and #105.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Allison #1317 in 1999, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 54.
Highest recorded here: Allison #164 in 1966, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #631, Mary #105.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 27.
Highest recorded here: Allison #1317 in 1999, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #3318, Mary #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1965–1980
Allison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Mary in 9.
Highest recorded here: Allison #63 in 1971, Mary #35 in 1966.
The order changed in 1980: Allison moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #91 and #79; by 1980 that had become #85 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Allison #85, Mary #95.
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 | Allison | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #631 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Allison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Allison
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1965–1980
Highest recorded position: #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1965–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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