Leanne vs Maria
Leanne 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1983, Leanne was ranked #58 and Maria #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Leanne was ranked #95 and Maria #59 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Leanne was ranked #366 and Maria #73 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Leanne was ranked #883 and Maria #75 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Leanne was ranked #2115 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
Leanne and Maria over time
Leanne and Maria appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leanne in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Leanne 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 1998, Maria moved ahead of Leanne in England and Wales · Girls — #105 and #121 the year before became #126 and #114.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leanne and Maria changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1961 and 1985, ending at #95 and #59.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Leanne and Maria averaged 17.4 places apart, ending at #58 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Leanne and Maria were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1973 to 2021, ending at #883 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Leanne #6 in 1968, Maria #13 in 1966.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #88 and #96 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #2115 and #91.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1973–2021
Leanne held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maria in 37.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #26 in 1990, Maria #27 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Leanne #883, Maria #75.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leanne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Maria in 27.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #88 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 1998: Maria moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #105 and #121; by 1998 that had become #126 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leanne #2115, Maria #91.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1957–1983
Leanne held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Maria in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #6 in 1968, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order changed in 1960: Leanne moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #40 and #29; by 1960 that had become #33 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Leanne #58, Maria #98.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1961–1985
Leanne held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Maria in 10.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #22 in 1965, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Leanne #95, Maria #59.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2010
Leanne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 12.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #84 in 1998, Maria #51 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Leanne #366, 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 | Leanne | 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 | Not yet recorded | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) | 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); Leanne does not have one recorded yet.
- Leanne and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Leanne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 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