Heidi vs Mary
Heidi and Marycompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1980, Heidi was ranked #93 and Mary #65 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Heidi was ranked #65 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Heidi was ranked #78 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Heidi was ranked #91 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Heidi was ranked #95 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Heidi was ranked #107 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Heidi was ranked #437 and Mary #518 among girls in Norway.
Heidi and Mary over time
Heidi and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Heidi held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mary in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Heidi 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 2007, Heidi moved ahead of Mary in England and Wales · Girls — #182 and #170 the year before became #131 and #177.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Heidi and Mary changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2025, ending at #91 and #112.
- Longest-running competitions
Heidi and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 75 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #437 and #518.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Heidi #64 in 1973, Mary #61 in 1971.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2025
Heidi held the stronger position in 67 of those years, Mary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #2 in 1965, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order changed in 1953: Heidi moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #97 and #82; by 1953 that had become #92 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heidi #437, Mary #518.
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1968–2025
Heidi held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Mary in 40.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #74 in 2019, Mary #1 in 1968.
The order changed in 2023: Heidi moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #94 and #87; by 2023 that had become #89 and #130.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heidi #91, Mary #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Heidi held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mary in 11.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #76 in 2016, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order changed in 2007: Heidi moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #182 and #170; by 2007 that had become #131 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Heidi #107, Mary #337.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Heidi held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Mary in 10.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #48 in 2021, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Heidi moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #121 and #114; by 2009 that had become #86 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Heidi #65, Mary #134.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1971–1981
Heidi held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Mary in 2.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #64 in 1973, Mary #61 in 1971.
The order changed in 1973: Heidi moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #87 and #70; by 1973 that had become #64 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Heidi #78, Mary #100.
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 | Heidi | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A German diminutive of Adelheid. Gained wide recognition through Johanna Spyri's 1880 children's novel Heidi, and its 1937 film adaptation starring Shirley Temple. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhaɪ̯.di/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 #91 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Heidi has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Heidi and Mary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Heidi; Mary 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
Heidi
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #188 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: #2 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #437 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls