Claire vs Maria
Claire 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Claire was ranked #51 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1993, Claire was ranked #85 and Maria #92 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #1021 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #407 and Maria #97 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Claire and Maria over time
Claire and Maria appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Claire in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Claire 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Maria moved ahead of Claire in England and Wales · Girls — #114 and #121 the year before became #134 and #114.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Maria changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1993, ending at #85 and #92.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Claire and Maria averaged 29.2 places apart, ending at #85 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Maria were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 33 years, from 1954 to 1993, ending at #85 and #92.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #90 and #96 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #1021 and #91.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Maria in 36.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Maria #74.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1993
Claire held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Maria in 17.
Highest recorded here: Claire #23 in 1980, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order changed in 1993: Claire moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #76 and #73; by 1993 that had become #85 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Claire #85, Maria #92.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Maria in 27.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 1998: Maria moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #114 and #121; by 1998 that had become #134 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #1021, Maria #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Maria in 18.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order changed in 2002: Maria moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #48 and #65; by 2002 that had become #58 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #407, Maria #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1976–1985
Claire held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Maria in 4.
Highest recorded here: Claire #51 in 1985, Maria #46 in 1976.
The order changed in 1981: Claire moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #71 and #70; by 1981 that had become #65 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Claire #51, Maria #95.
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 | Claire | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin, while Maria is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission origin.
- Claire and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- Claire's recorded meaning differs from Maria's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Maria a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls