Esther vs Maya
Esther and Mayacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Esther was ranked #145 and Maya #15 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Esther was ranked #260 and Maya #19 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Esther was ranked #207 and Maya #40 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Esther was ranked #418 and Maya #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Esther was ranked #79 and Maya #72 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Esther was ranked #183 and Maya #86 among girls in Norway.
Esther and Maya over time
Esther and Maya appear together in 4 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Maya held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Esther in 0.
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.
Esther reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Maya 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Maya moved ahead of Esther in England and Wales · Girls — #194 and #229 the year before became #182 and #173.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Esther and Maya changed places 11 times in Norway · Girls between 1961 and 2025, ending at #183 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Esther and Maya were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 61 years, from 1961 to 2025, ending at #183 and #86.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1961–2025
Esther held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Maya in 38.
Highest recorded here: Esther #163 in 2013, Maya #66 in 2016.
The order changed in 1998: Maya moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #324 and #354; by 1998 that had become #499 and #295.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Esther #183, Maya #86.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Esther held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Maya in 27.
Highest recorded here: Esther #141 in 2017, Maya #15 in 2024.
The order changed in 1998: Maya moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #194 and #229; by 1998 that had become #182 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Esther #145, Maya #15.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Esther held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Maya in 23.
Highest recorded here: Esther #148 in 2002, Maya #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2004: Maya moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #155 and #233; by 2004 that had become #222 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Esther #207, Maya #40.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2002–2022
Esther held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Maya in 16.
Highest recorded here: Esther #180 in 2011, Maya #64 in 2022.
The order changed in 2003: Maya moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #227 and #339; by 2003 that had become #284 and #225.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Esther #418, Maya #64.
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 | Esther | Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #183 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #40 (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 has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Maya.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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 #183 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Maya
Popularity journey
First recorded1961
First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls