Ashleigh vs Maria
Ashleigh 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Ashleigh was ranked #51 and Maria #87 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Ashleigh was ranked #58 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Ashleigh was ranked #764 and Maria #75 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Ashleigh was ranked #440 and Maria #82 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ashleigh was ranked #2788 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashleigh and Maria over time
Ashleigh and Maria appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ashleigh in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2000, Maria moved ahead of Ashleigh in England and Wales · Girls — #95 and #106 the year before became #112 and #111.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashleigh and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2788 and #88.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls37 shared years, 1971–2021
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 37.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #162 in 1995, Maria #25 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ashleigh #764, Maria #75.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Maria in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 2000: Maria moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #95 and #106; by 2000 that had become #112 and #111.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashleigh #2788, Maria #88.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1986–2003
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Maria in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #8 in 1992, Maria #63 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Ashleigh #51, Maria #87.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2016
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #87 in 1997, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Ashleigh #440, Maria #82.
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 | Ashleigh | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 53/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Ashleigh does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashleigh and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Ashleigh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashleigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #88 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls