Alma vs Marlene
Alma and Marlenecompared 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 Marlene #516 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #211 and Marlene #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Alma was ranked #661 and Marlene #876 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alma and Marlene over time
Alma and Marlene appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Alma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Marlene 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.
Marlene reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alma and Marlene changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #211 and #4867.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Marlene fell — from #2096 and #3126 in 1996 to #211 and #4867 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alma and Marlene were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 48 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #8 and #516.
List by list
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1968–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Marlene in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alma #5 in 2023, Marlene #91 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #8, Marlene #516.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Marlene in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alma #211 in 2025, Marlene #1585 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #211, Marlene #4867.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1967–2014
Alma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Marlene in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alma #204 in 1978, Marlene #326 in 1970.
The order changed in 2012: Alma moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #937 and #937; by 2012 that had become #677 and #907.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Alma #661, Marlene #876.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alma
Pairs where Alma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Heidi vs Alma
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #188 and #293 in 1945 to #437 and #8 in 2025.
Heidi · Alma · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Kristin
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #293 and #130 in 1945 to #8 and #251 in 2025.
Alma · Kristin · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Solveig
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #293 and #14 in 1945 to #8 and #28 in 2025.
Alma · Solveig · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Hanne
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Hanne fell — from #293 and #123 in 1945 to #8 and #318 in 2025.
Alma · Hanne · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alma | Marlene |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | Norway · Girls #516 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Marlene.
- 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 #211 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Marlene
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #519 among girls in Norway in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #91 among girls in Norway, in 1987 (recorded 1967–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls