Jennifer vs Mary
Jennifer 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, Jennifer was ranked #19 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Jennifer was ranked #62 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Mary #201 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Jennifer was ranked #493 and Mary #428 among girls in Norway.
Jennifer and Mary over time
Jennifer and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 234 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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, Jennifer 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Mary changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2022, ending at #354 and #201.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jennifer and Mary averaged 43.3 places apart, ending at #19 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #54 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mary in 56.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Mary #112.
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1946–2020
Jennifer held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Mary in 38.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #187 in 2000, Mary #68 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jennifer #493, Mary #428.
New Zealand · Girls37 shared years, 1954–1991
Jennifer held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Mary in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1957, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Jennifer #62, Mary #89.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Mary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Mary moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #257 and #320; by 2018 that had become #303 and #259.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Mary #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1952–1981
Jennifer held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Mary in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #1 in 1956, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Jennifer #19, Mary #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Mary in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Mary #201.
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 Mary
Pairs where Mary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mary vs Marie
In 1945 they stood at #67 and #73 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #518 and #45.
Mary · Marie · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mary vs Kirsten
Mary and Kirsten changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #518 and #510.
Mary · Kirsten · 64 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Mary vs Berit
Mary and Berit changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2015, ending at #378 and #545.
Mary · Berit · 70 shared years, 1945–2015 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Mary vs Jane
Mary and Jane changed places 14 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2013, ending at #505 and #576.
Mary · Jane · 61 shared years, 1945–2013 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
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 | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; 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
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
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 #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls