Ann vs Mary
Ann and Marycompared 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 1969, Ann was ranked #92 and Mary #53 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Mary #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Ann was ranked #277 and Mary #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2019, Ann was ranked #435 and Mary #340 among girls in Norway.
Ann and Mary over time
Ann and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ann in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ann in 2. 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
Ann and Mary changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2019, ending at #435 and #340.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 72 years, from 1945 to 2019, ending at #435 and #340.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #4 and #1 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #443 and #112.
List by list
Norway · Girls72 shared years, 1945–2019
Ann held the stronger position in 64 of those years, Mary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Ann #435, Mary #340.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 62.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Mary #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Mary #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Mary #55.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Mary #53.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2011
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ann #229 in 1998, Mary #66 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ann #277, Mary #127.
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 | Ann | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ann has 1 syllable, 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
Ann
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls