Debra vs Marian
Debra and Mariancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2002, Debra was ranked #620 and Marian #512 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Debra was ranked #4867 and Marian #2605 among girls in England and Wales.
Debra and Marian over time
Debra and Marian appear together in 2 published lists, across 48 years of shared records. Marian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Debra 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.
Debra reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Marian 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
Debra and Marian changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #2605.
- Longest-running competitions
Debra and Marian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1964 to 2002, ending at #620 and #512.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Debra #1364 in 1996, Marian #1287 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1964–2002
Debra held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Marian in 32.
Highest recorded here: Debra #230 in 1970, Marian #57 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Debra #620, Marian #512.
England and Wales · Girls16 shared years, 1996–2025
Debra held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Marian in 10.
Highest recorded here: Debra #1364 in 1996, Marian #1287 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Marian moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #2226 and #2466; by 2002 that had become #4137 and #2105.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Debra #4867, Marian #2605.
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 Debra
Pairs where Debra shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jennifer vs Debra
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #1 in 1956, Debra #6 in 1958.
Jennifer · Debra · 20 shared years, 1953–1973 · Peaked in the same years
- Karen vs Debra
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Karen #1 in 1957, Debra #17 in 1959.
Karen · Debra · 19 shared years, 1955–1973 · Peaked in the same years
- Donna vs Debra
In 1961, Donna moved ahead of Debra in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #7 the year before became #6 and #18.
Donna · Debra · 20 shared years, 1953–1973 · One moved ahead of the other
- Debra vs Vicki
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Debra and Vicki averaged 11.8 places apart, ending at #99 and #74.
Debra · Vicki · 20 shared years, 1953–1973 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Debra | Marian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2605 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Debra and Marian both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Debra
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–1973
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1953–1973).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Marian
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #382 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2013
Highest recorded position: #57 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1987 (recorded 1964–2013).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls