Barbara vs Mary
Barbara 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Mary #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Mary #62 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Mary #130 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Mary #378 among girls in Norway.
Barbara and Mary over time
Barbara and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barbara in 0.
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.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Barbara 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1955, Mary moved ahead of Barbara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #28 the year before became #35 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Mary changed places 10 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2015, ending at #543 and #378.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #543 and #378.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 56.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Mary #130.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mary in 49.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Mary #378.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Mary #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order changed in 1955: Mary moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #25 and #28; by 1955 that had become #35 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Mary #55.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Mary #62.
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 | Barbara | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls