Janet vs Mary
Janet 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 1966, Janet was ranked #80 and Mary #35 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Janet was ranked #82 and Mary #37 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Mary #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Janet was ranked #344 and Mary #72 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Janet was ranked #652 and Mary #252 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Janet was ranked #3318 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Mary over time
Janet and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Janet in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Janet 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 39 years, from 1947 to 1991, ending at #652 and #252.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Janet #1031 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 43.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Mary #58.
Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1947–1991
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 39.
Highest recorded here: Janet #239 in 1958, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Janet #652, Mary #252.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 29.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Mary #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Janet #82, Mary #37.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 13.
Highest recorded here: Janet #19 in 1954, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Janet #80, Mary #35.
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 | Janet | 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 | |
| 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 | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Janet 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
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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