Harper vs Maja
Harper 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #21 and Maja #244 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #22 and Maja #425 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #54 and Maja #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #84 and Maja #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Harper and Maja over time
Harper and Maja appear together in 3 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Harper held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maja in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, and Harper 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 2014, Harper moved ahead of Maja in England and Wales · Girls — #160 and #134 the year before became #89 and #168.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 2001–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Maja in 12.
Highest recorded here: Harper #22 in 2023, Maja #128 in 2011.
The order changed in 2014: Harper moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #160 and #134; by 2014 that had become #89 and #168.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #22, Maja #425.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maja in 5.
Highest recorded here: Harper #53 in 2018, Maja #54 in 2009.
The order changed in 2016: Harper moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #102 and #91; by 2016 that had become #65 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #54, Maja #247.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2012–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maja in 2.
Highest recorded here: Harper #38 in 2021, Maja #115 in 2012.
The order changed in 2014: Harper moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #178 and #150; by 2014 that had become #129 and #156.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #84, Maja #253.
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 | Harper | Maja |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) | Norway · Girls #27 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Harper has a recorded origin (English (occupational surname)); Maja does not have one recorded yet.
- Harper and Maja both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Harper; Maja doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #27 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls