Namewise

Kelly vs Mary

Kelly 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, Kelly was ranked #13 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1991, Kelly was ranked #38 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Mary #130 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2021, Kelly was ranked #446 and Mary #152 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Kelly was ranked #790 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2019, Kelly was ranked #479 and Mary #340 among girls in Norway.

Kelly and Mary over time

Kelly and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kelly in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 3 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, Kelly 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1969 as Mary fell out of it to #55, having been #41 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1999, Mary moved ahead of Kelly in England and Wales · Girls — #120 and #133 the year before became #154 and #139.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kelly and Mary changed places 8 times in Norway · Girls between 1967 and 2019, ending at #479 and #340.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Kelly rose about as far as Mary fell — from #90 and #59 in 1970 to #38 and #89 in 1991.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kelly and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #329.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023

    Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 54.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Mary #1 in 1969.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Mary #130.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Kelly held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Mary in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1999: Mary moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #120 and #133; by 1999 that had become #154 and #139.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Mary #329.

  • Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1967–2019

    Kelly held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mary in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #380 in 1997, Mary #170 in 1967.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Kelly #479, Mary #340.

  • New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1970–1991

    Kelly held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Mary in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Mary #59 in 1970.

    The order changed in 1971: Kelly moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #90 and #59; by 1971 that had become #14 and #62.

    Most recent shared year, 1991: Kelly #38, Mary #89.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1964–1981

    Kelly held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Mary in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Mary #23 in 1964.

    The order changed in 1969: Kelly moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #44 and #41; by 1969 that had become #34 and #55.

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Kelly #13, Mary #100.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2021

    Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Mary #53 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Kelly #446, Mary #152.

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 Kelly

Pairs where Kelly shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Mary

Pairs where Mary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.

The 1980s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Kelly, Mary
FieldKellyMary
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kelly and Mary both have 2 syllables.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Kelly

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1970–1998

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Mary

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls