Jennifer vs Maria
Jennifer 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Jennifer was ranked #19 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Jennifer was ranked #493 and Maria #47 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #84 and Maria #87 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Maria #93 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Jennifer and Maria over time
Jennifer and Maria appear together in 6 published lists, across 249 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Maria in 2. 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 2006, Maria moved ahead of Jennifer in England and Wales · Girls — #109 and #115 the year before became #131 and #104.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Maria changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 2003, ending at #84 and #87.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jennifer and Maria averaged 32.5 places apart, ending at #19 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #88.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #55 and #61 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2022 they were #354 and #93.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Maria in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Maria #74.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2020
Jennifer held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 55.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #187 in 2000, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jennifer #493, Maria #47.
New Zealand · Girls47 shared years, 1954–2003
Jennifer held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Maria in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1957, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #84, Maria #87.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1985
Jennifer held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Maria in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #1 in 1956, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Jennifer #19, Maria #95.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maria in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 2006: Maria moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #109 and #115; by 2006 that had become #131 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Maria #88.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Maria in 21.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order changed in 1998: Maria moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #55 and #61; by 1998 that had become #71 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Maria #93.
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 Jennifer
Pairs where Jennifer shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #2788.
Jennifer · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Jennifer
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #650.
Amelia · Jennifer · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Ella
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #56 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #46.
Jennifer · Ella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jennifer | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 #413 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin, while Maria is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission origin.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Maria.
- Jennifer's recorded meaning differs from Maria's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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