Ellen vs Maria
Ellen 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #208 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Ellen was ranked #84 and Maria #83 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Maria #97 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Ellen and Maria over time
Ellen and Maria appear together in 4 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ellen 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.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Maria 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 2004, Maria moved ahead of Ellen in England and Wales · Girls — #103 and #108 the year before became #124 and #113.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ellen and Maria averaged 31.2 places apart, ending at #150 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Maria were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #208 and #62.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Maria in 51.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #15 in 1955, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order changed in 1975: Maria moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #43 and #46; by 1975 that had become #34 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #208, Maria #62.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Maria in 37.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order changed in 2015: Maria moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #57 and #69; by 2015 that had become #56 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Maria #74.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Maria in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 2004: Maria moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #103 and #108; by 2004 that had become #124 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Maria #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Maria in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order changed in 2024: Maria moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #135 and #159; by 2024 that had become #150 and #97.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Maria #97.
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 | Ellen | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ | |
| 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 #166 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 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: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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