Esther vs Maja
Esther and Majacompared 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, Esther was ranked #183 and Maja #27 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Esther was ranked #150 and Maja #468 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Esther was ranked #207 and Maja #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Esther was ranked #260 and Maja #244 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Esther was ranked #418 and Maja #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Esther and Maja over time
Esther and Maja appear together in 4 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Maja held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Esther 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.
Maja reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Esther 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Esther and Maja changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2003 and 2025, ending at #207 and #247.
- Longest-running competitions
Esther and Maja were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #150 and #468.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Esther #180 in 2011, Maja #106 in 2011.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1960–2025
Esther held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maja in 54.
Highest recorded here: Esther #163 in 2013, Maja #16 in 2009.
The order changed in 1973: Maja moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #390 and #441; by 1973 that had become #341 and #284.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Esther #183, Maja #27.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Esther held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Maja in 5.
Highest recorded here: Esther #141 in 2017, Maja #128 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Esther #150, Maja #468.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Esther held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Maja in 17.
Highest recorded here: Esther #155 in 2003, Maja #54 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Esther #207, Maja #247.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2006–2022
Esther held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Maja in 12.
Highest recorded here: Esther #180 in 2011, Maja #106 in 2011.
The order changed in 2007: Maja moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #265 and #332; by 2007 that had become #268 and #245.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Esther #418, Maja #354.
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 Maja
Pairs where Maja shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Eva vs Maja
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Eva fell — from #13 and #444 in 1960 to #22 and #27 in 2025.
Eva · Maja · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Line vs Maja
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Line fell — from #149 and #444 in 1960 to #357 and #27 in 2025.
Line · Maja · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Maja vs Åse
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Åse fell — from #444 and #39 in 1960 to #27 and #93 in 2025.
Maja · Åse · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Stine vs Maja
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maja rose about as far as Stine fell — from #215 and #444 in 1960 to #384 and #27 in 2025.
Stine · Maja · 61 shared years, 1960–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Esther | Maja |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #150 (2025) | Norway · Girls #27 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Esther and Maja both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Esther
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #211 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2013–2023
Highest recorded position: #79 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2013–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Maja
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #444 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1960–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1960–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls