Josephine vs Maria
Josephine 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, Josephine was ranked #241 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Josephine was ranked #355 and Maria #72 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Josephine was ranked #81 and Maria #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Josephine was ranked #295 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Josephine and Maria over time
Josephine and Maria appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Josephine in 0.
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.
Josephine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Maria 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 1966, Maria moved ahead of Josephine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #34 and #36 the year before became #37 and #30.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #88.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #25 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #483 and #74.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1951–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 63.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #238 in 2022, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #241, Maria #62.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Maria in 60.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order changed in 1966: Maria moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #34 and #36; by 1966 that had become #37 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Maria #74.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 30.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Maria #88.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2017
Josephine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 12.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #229 in 1998, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Josephine #355, Maria #72.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1954–1992
Josephine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 8.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #74 in 1954, Maria #55 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Josephine #81, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Josephine | 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 | 4 | 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 | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Maria.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Josephine 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
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #256 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