Linda vs Mary
Linda 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, Linda was ranked #53 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Linda was ranked #76 and Mary #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #718 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Linda was ranked #446 and Mary #152 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #1892 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Linda was ranked #376 and Mary #468 among girls in Norway.
Linda and Mary over time
Linda and Mary appear together in 5 published lists, across 218 years of shared records. Linda held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mary 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, and Linda in none. 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 1954, Linda moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #21 the year before became #27 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Linda and Mary changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1979, ending at #76 and #90.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Linda and Mary averaged 23.8 places apart, ending at #53 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Linda and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Linda #638 in 1997, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2024
Linda held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Mary in 13.
Highest recorded here: Linda #1 in 1975, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order changed in 2020: Linda moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #416 and #340; by 2020 that had become #383 and #428.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Linda #376, Mary #468.
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 59.
Highest recorded here: Linda #13 in 1973, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #718, Mary #112.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 30.
Highest recorded here: Linda #638 in 1997, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #1892, Mary #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1952–1981
Linda held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Mary in 2.
Highest recorded here: Linda #12 in 1963, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order changed in 1954: Linda moved ahead. In 1953 they stood at #27 and #21; by 1954 that had become #27 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Linda #53, Mary #100.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979
Linda held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mary in 7.
Highest recorded here: Linda #7 in 1957, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order changed in 1979: Linda moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #88 and #74; by 1979 that had become #76 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Linda #76, Mary #90.
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 | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Linda and Mary both have 2 syllables.
- 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
Mary
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls