Donna vs Marion
Donna and Marioncompared 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 1957, Donna was ranked #43 and Marion #94 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1956, Donna was ranked #66 and Marion #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Donna was ranked #582 and Marion #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Marion #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Marion over time
Donna and Marion appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Donna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marion in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1973, Donna moved ahead of Marion in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #155 and #137 the year before became #142 and #155.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donna and Marion changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #5891 and #2253.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Marion were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 40 years, from 1964 to 2009, ending at #582 and #893.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Marion #1450 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1964–2009
Donna held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Marion in 7.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Marion #125 in 1965.
The order changed in 1973: Donna moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #155 and #137; by 1973 that had become #142 and #155.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Donna #582, Marion #893.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Marion in 9.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Marion #1450 in 1997.
The order changed in 2017: Marion moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #2966 and #3214; by 2017 that had become #4063 and #4063.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Marion #2253.
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 | Donna | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Norway · Girls #253 (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
- Donna and Marion both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Donna
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #91 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 recorded1953–1982
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1953–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Marion
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #183 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #57 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #253 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls