Amelia vs Maria
Amelia and Mariacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2016, Amelia was ranked #6 and Maria #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Maria #97 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Amelia was ranked #92 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Amelia and Maria over time
Amelia and Maria appear together in 6 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Maria in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Amelia 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Amelia moved into the top 50 at #45 in 2010 as Maria fell out of it to #73, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Amelia moved ahead of Maria in New Zealand · Girls — #99 and #83 the year before became #70 and #73.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amelia and Maria averaged 42.7 places apart, ending at #6 and #78.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Maria fell — from #358 and #61 in 1997 to #14 and #97 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 45 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #91.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Maria #120 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Maria in 37.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Maria #24 in 1968.
The order changed in 2007: Amelia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #74 and #66; by 2007 that had become #48 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Maria #74.
England and Wales · Girls45 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Maria in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Maria #91.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1967–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maria in 28.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Maria #3 in 2001.
The order changed in 2019: Amelia moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #41 and #34; by 2019 that had become #32 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Maria #62.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Maria in 11.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order changed in 2010: Amelia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #58 and #49; by 2010 that had become #45 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Maria #97.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1986–2016
Amelia held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maria in 6.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #6 in 2014, Maria #63 in 1989.
The order changed in 1992: Amelia moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #99 and #83; by 1992 that had become #70 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Amelia #6, Maria #78.
Scotland · Girls22 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Maria in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Maria #120 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Maria #120.
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 | Amelia | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | 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 | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Maria is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Maria.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Maria's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Maria a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Maria
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 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: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1982 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls