Anita vs Mary
Anita and Mary compared 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 1989, Anita was ranked #100 and Mary #83 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Anita was ranked #85 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Anita was ranked #905 and Mary #87 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Anita was ranked #430 and Mary #108 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anita was ranked #2278 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anita was ranked #459 and Mary #518 among girls in Norway.
Anita and Mary over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Anita and Mary over time
Anita and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Anita in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 4 of those lists, Anita 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anita and Mary changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1968 and 1989, ending at #100 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anita and Mary averaged 16.1 places apart, ending at #100 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Anita and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anita #436 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls73 shared years, 1945–2025
Anita held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Mary in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anita #4 in 1963, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order changed in 2025: Anita moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #404 and #340; by 2025 that had become #459 and #518.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anita #459, Mary #518.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2022
Anita held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 53.
Highest recorded here: Anita #74 in 1976, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anita #905, Mary #87.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anita held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 30.
Highest recorded here: Anita #436 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anita #2278, Mary #329.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1968–1989
Anita held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Mary in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anita #49 in 1980, Mary #47 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Anita #100, Mary #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1967–1981
Anita held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Mary in 7.
Highest recorded here: Anita #85 in 1979, Mary #39 in 1967.
The order changed in 1981: Anita moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #85 and #79; by 1981 that had become #85 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Anita #85, Mary #100.
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 Anita
Pairs where Anita shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Laura vs Anita
In 1964 they stood at #131 and #130 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #91 and #905.
Laura · Anita · 53 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anita vs Stephanie
In 1964 they stood at #130 and #140 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2022 they were #905 and #502.
Anita · Stephanie · 53 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anita vs Tone
Anita and Tone changed places 21 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2023, ending at #379 and #535.
Anita · Tone · 74 shared years, 1945–2023 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Angela vs Anita
Angela and Anita changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #389 and #905.
Angela · Anita · 53 shared years, 1964–2022 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Mary
Pairs where Mary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mary vs Marie
In 1945 they stood at #67 and #73 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #518 and #45.
Mary · Marie · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mary vs Kirsten
Mary and Kirsten changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #518 and #510.
Mary · Kirsten · 64 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Mary vs Berit
Mary and Berit changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2015, ending at #378 and #545.
Mary · Berit · 70 shared years, 1945–2015 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Mary vs Jane
Mary and Jane changed places 14 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2013, ending at #505 and #576.
Mary · Jane · 61 shared years, 1945–2013 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anita | 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 | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #459 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anita has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Anita
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #162 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: #4 among girls in Norway, in 1963 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls