Linda vs Maria
Linda 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Linda was ranked #76 and Maria #61 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Linda was ranked #376 and Maria #61 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #718 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Linda was ranked #79 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #1892 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Linda was ranked #446 and Maria #131 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Linda and Maria over time
Linda and Maria appear together in 5 published lists, across 226 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Linda in 1.
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.
Linda 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 Linda in New Zealand · Girls — #14 and #28 the year before became #27 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Linda and Maria changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1985, ending at #79 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Linda and Maria averaged 9.8 places apart, ending at #79 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Linda and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #88.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #28 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #74.
List by list
Norway · Girls79 shared years, 1945–2024
Linda held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maria in 50.
Highest recorded here: Linda #1 in 1975, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Linda #376, Maria #61.
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Maria in 36.
Highest recorded here: Linda #13 in 1973, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order changed in 1987: Maria moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #26 and #29; by 1987 that had become #32 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #718, Maria #74.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1985
Linda held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Maria in 6.
Highest recorded here: Linda #12 in 1963, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Linda #79, Maria #95.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 30.
Highest recorded here: Linda #638 in 1997, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #1892, Maria #88.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979
Linda held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Maria in 13.
Highest recorded here: Linda #7 in 1957, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order changed in 1966: Maria moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #14 and #28; by 1966 that had become #27 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Linda #76, Maria #61.
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 | Linda | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Linda does not have one recorded yet.
- Linda and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Linda 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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 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