Gretha vs Maria
Gretha 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 1969, Gretha was ranked #444 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
Gretha and Maria over time
Gretha and Maria appear together in 1 published list, across 24 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Gretha 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.
Gretha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Maria 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 1946, Maria moved ahead of Gretha in Norway · Girls — #122 and #126 the year before became #172 and #130.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #122 and #126 in Norway · Girls, 4 places apart; by 1969 they were #444 and #62.
List by list
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1945–1969
Gretha held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Maria in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gretha #122 in 1945, Maria #62 in 1969.
The order changed in 1946: Maria moved ahead. In 1945 they stood at #122 and #126; by 1946 that had become #172 and #130.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Gretha #444, Maria #62.
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 Maria
Pairs where Maria shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Maria
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #96 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #88.
Nicola · Maria · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Stacey
In 1996 they stood at #96 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #88 and #2138.
Maria · Stacey · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Leanne
In 1996 they stood at #96 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #88 and #2006.
Maria · Leanne · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #96 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #88 and #1362.
Maria · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Gretha | 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 | Not yet recorded | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #444 (1969) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Gretha does not have one recorded yet.
- Gretha and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Gretha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
How each name got here
Gretha
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #122 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–1969
Highest recorded position: #122 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–1969).
Norway · Girls
Most recent1969
Most recently recorded at #444 among girls in Norway, in 1969.
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 #88 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls