Caroline vs Mary
Caroline 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 1985, Caroline was ranked #85 and Mary #83 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Caroline was ranked #84 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #381 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Caroline was ranked #358 and Mary #116 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caroline was ranked #1406 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #392 and Mary #518 among girls in Norway.
Caroline and Mary over time
Caroline and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 213 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caroline in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 5 of those lists, Caroline 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 1976, Caroline moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #75 and #72 the year before became #69 and #89.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caroline and Mary changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1957 and 1985, ending at #85 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Caroline and Mary averaged 33.1 places apart, ending at #84 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Caroline and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 59 years, from 1958 to 2025, ending at #392 and #518.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #1 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #112.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 62.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #3 in 1979, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #381, Mary #112.
Norway · Girls59 shared years, 1958–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Mary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #15 in 1990, Mary #114 in 1962.
The order changed in 1974: Caroline moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #220 and #210; by 1974 that had become #173 and #194.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #392, Mary #518.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 29.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caroline #1406, Mary #337.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1957–1985
Caroline held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mary in 19.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #56 in 1978, Mary #13 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Caroline #85, Mary #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1957–1981
Caroline held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Mary in 12.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #65 in 1979, Mary #22 in 1957.
The order changed in 1976: Caroline moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #75 and #72; by 1976 that had become #69 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Caroline #84, Mary #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2015
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #112 in 1998, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Caroline #358, Mary #116.
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 | Caroline | 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 | 4 | 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 #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caroline has 4 syllables, 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
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #392 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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