Jane vs Mary
Jane 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Jane was ranked #72 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Jane was ranked #96 and Mary #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #288 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Jane was ranked #576 and Mary #505 among girls in Norway.
Jane and Mary over time
Jane and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 242 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jane in 2.
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.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jane 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Jane moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #28 and #23 the year before became #28 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Mary changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1988, ending at #96 and #92.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jane and Mary averaged 21.8 places apart, ending at #72 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Mary were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1952 to 1981, ending at #72 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jane #316 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 62.
Highest recorded here: Jane #59 in 1964, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Mary #112.
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1945–2013
Jane held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Mary in 31.
Highest recorded here: Jane #73 in 1960, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jane #576, Mary #505.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1988
Jane held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Mary in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jane #28 in 1957, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jane #96, Mary #92.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1952–1981
Jane held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Mary in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jane #25 in 1966, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order changed in 1965: Jane moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #28 and #23; by 1965 that had become #28 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Jane #72, Mary #100.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Mary #337.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Mary in 26.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #288, Mary #134.
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 | Jane | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jane and Mary both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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