Carla vs Mary
Carla 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 1980, Carla was ranked #81 and Mary #65 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Carla was ranked #325 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Carla was ranked #328 and Mary #171 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Carla was ranked #638 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Carla was ranked #922 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Carla was ranked #352 and Mary #428 among girls in Norway.
Carla and Mary over time
Carla and Mary appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Carla 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, and Carla 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carla and Mary changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1967 and 2020, ending at #352 and #428.
- Longest-running competitions
Carla and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #922 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Carla #186 in 1997, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Carla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 61.
Highest recorded here: Carla #117 in 2000, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carla #325, Mary #112.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1967–2020
Carla held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mary in 30.
Highest recorded here: Carla #336 in 2015, Mary #153 in 1968.
The order changed in 2020: Carla moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #387 and #340; by 2020 that had become #352 and #428.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Carla #352, Mary #428.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Carla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 30.
Highest recorded here: Carla #186 in 1997, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carla #922, Mary #329.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023
Carla held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Mary in 23.
Highest recorded here: Carla #79 in 1997, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carla #328, Mary #171.
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 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
Side by side
| Field | Carla | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carla and Mary both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Carla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #274 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1974–1980
Highest recorded position: #74 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1974–1980).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #922 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