Joanna vs Maria
Joanna 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Joanna was ranked #508 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Joanna was ranked #98 and Maria #69 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Joanna was ranked #98 and Maria #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Joanna was ranked #352 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Joanna was ranked #514 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Joanna was ranked #407 and Maria #97 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Joanna was ranked #384 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Joanna and Maria over time
Joanna and Maria appear together in 5 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joanna in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Joanna 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joanna and Maria changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1968 and 1992, ending at #98 and #73.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Joanna and Maria averaged 14.5 places apart, ending at #98 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Joanna and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #514 and #88.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Joanna #29 in 1970, Maria #31 in 1968.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Joanna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 62.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #104 in 1982, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joanna #352, Maria #74.
Norway · Girls58 shared years, 1955–2025
Joanna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 58.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #93 in 1983, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joanna #508, Maria #62.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Joanna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 30.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #125 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joanna #514, Maria #88.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Joanna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 26.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #111 in 2000, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joanna #407, Maria #97.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1968–1992
Joanna held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Maria in 9.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #29 in 1970, Maria #31 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Joanna #98, Maria #73.
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 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
Side by side
| Field | Joanna | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ | |
| 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 #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Joanna does not have one recorded yet.
- Joanna and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Joanna 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
Joanna
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #432 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–1992
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1968–1992).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #514 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