Kim vs Maria
Kim 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 2011, Kim was ranked #589 and Maria #14 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Kim was ranked #78 and Maria #59 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1983, Kim was ranked #66 and Maria #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Maria #73 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #4192 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kim was ranked #451 and Maria #109 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Kim and Maria over time
Kim and Maria appear together in 5 published lists, across 201 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim in 2.
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.
Kim reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1955, Kim moved ahead of Maria in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #49 and #38 the year before became #36 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kim and Maria changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1958 and 1985, ending at #78 and #59.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kim and Maria averaged 18.7 places apart, ending at #66 and #98.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maria rose about as far as Kim fell — from #344 and #99 in 1951 to #589 and #14 in 2011.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Maria were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #66 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Kim #5 in 1968, Maria #21 in 1967.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 57.
Highest recorded here: Kim #64 in 1992, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Maria #73.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1951–2011
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 55.
Highest recorded here: Kim #205 in 1967, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Kim #589, Maria #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1952–1983
Kim held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maria in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kim #6 in 1959, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order changed in 1955: Kim moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #49 and #38; by 1955 that had become #36 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Kim #66, Maria #98.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #4192, Maria #91.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1958–1985
Kim held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Maria in 4.
Highest recorded here: Kim #5 in 1968, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Kim #78, Maria #59.
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 | Kim | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | 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 | Not yet recorded | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Maria.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls