Alma vs Mariam
Alma and Mariamcompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #8 and Mariam #233 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Mariam #304 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alma was ranked #234 and Mariam #249 among girls in England and Wales.
Alma and Mariam over time
Alma and Mariam appear together in 3 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Mariam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alma 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.
Mariam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alma 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 2003, Alma moved ahead of Mariam in Norway · Girls — #291 and #243 the year before became #154 and #212.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alma and Mariam changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1959 and 2025, ending at #8 and #233.
- Longest-running competitions
Alma and Mariam were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1959 to 2025, ending at #8 and #233.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Alma #213 in 2024, Mariam #275 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1959–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Mariam in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alma #5 in 2023, Mariam #166 in 2011.
The order changed in 2003: Alma moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #291 and #243; by 2003 that had become #154 and #212.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #8, Mariam #233.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mariam in 26.
Highest recorded here: Alma #228 in 2023, Mariam #172 in 2009.
The order changed in 2023: Alma moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #279 and #259; by 2023 that had become #228 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alma #234, Mariam #249.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2002–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Mariam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alma #213 in 2024, Mariam #275 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Alma moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #625 and #279; by 2024 that had become #213 and #275.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #226, Mariam #304.
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 | Alma | Mariam |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | Norway · Girls #233 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alma and Mariam both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Alma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #293 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Mariam
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #430 among girls in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2005–2017
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008 (recorded 2005–2017).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #233 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls