Namewise

Ann vs Maria

Ann 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.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Maria #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1969, Ann was ranked #92 and Maria #32 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2023, Ann was ranked #404 and Maria #60 among girls in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Ann was ranked #2006 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2011, Ann was ranked #277 and Maria #93 among girls in Northern Ireland.

Ann and Maria over time

Ann and Maria appear together in 6 published lists, across 210 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Ann in 0.

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.

Ann reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Maria 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 1957, Maria moved ahead of Ann in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #38 the year before became #35 and #31.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ann and Maria changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #443 and #74.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ann and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #88.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2023

    Ann held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Maria in 43.

    Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Maria #3 in 1982.

    The order changed in 1977: Maria moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #18 and #22; by 1977 that had become #23 and #7.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Ann #404, Maria #60.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Ann held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Maria in 39.

    Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Maria #23 in 1967.

    The order changed in 1990: Maria moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #33 and #38; by 1990 that had become #47 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Maria #74.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #2006, Maria #88.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970

    Ann held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Maria in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Maria #13 in 1966.

    The order changed in 1957: Maria moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #34 and #38; by 1957 that had become #35 and #31.

    Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Maria #22.

  • New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969

    Ann held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maria in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Maria #21 in 1967.

    The order changed in 1961: Maria moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #61 and #64; by 1961 that had become #69 and #68.

    Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Maria #32.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2011

    Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Ann #229 in 1998, Maria #51 in 1999.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2011: Ann #277, Maria #93.

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 Ann

Pairs where Ann shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Maria

Pairs where Maria shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ann, Maria
FieldAnnMaria
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary).
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission
Pronunciation/mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025)Norway · Girls #62 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Ann does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Maria.
  • A meaning is recorded for Maria; Ann doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Ann

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #82 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Maria

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1982 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #88 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls