Louise vs Maria
Louise and Maria compared 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 1985, Louise was ranked #54 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #59 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Louise was ranked #296 and Maria #72 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #213 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Louise was ranked #100 and Maria #85 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #816 and Maria #88 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Louise was ranked #476 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Louise and Maria over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Louise and Maria over time
Louise and Maria appear together in 6 published lists, across 256 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Louise in 0.
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.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Louise 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 2006, Maria moved ahead of Louise in England and Wales · Girls — #112 and #115 the year before became #143 and #104.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Louise and Maria changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1985, ending at #54 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Louise and Maria averaged 14.0 places apart, ending at #54 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Louise and Maria were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #88.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Louise #23 in 1967, Maria #13 in 1966.
List by list
Norway · Girls69 shared years, 1946–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Maria in 68.
Highest recorded here: Louise #59 in 2025, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #59, Maria #62.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Maria in 31.
Highest recorded here: Louise #5 in 1980, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #213, Maria #74.
New Zealand · Girls41 shared years, 1954–1994
Louise held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Maria in 22.
Highest recorded here: Louise #27 in 1980, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Louise #100, Maria #85.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1985
Louise held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Maria in 19.
Highest recorded here: Louise #23 in 1967, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order changed in 1975: Louise moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #36 and #34; by 1975 that had become #35 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Louise #54, Maria #95.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maria in 20.
Highest recorded here: Louise #44 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 2006: Maria moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #112 and #115; by 2006 that had become #143 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #816, Maria #88.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Louise held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Maria in 15.
Highest recorded here: Louise #33 in 1997, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order changed in 2005: Maria moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #47 and #68; by 2005 that had become #83 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Louise #296, Maria #72.
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 Louise
Pairs where Louise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Louise vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #44 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #3035.
Louise · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #44 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #2278.
Louise · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Louise
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #816.
Grace · Louise · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Louise
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #816.
Anna · Louise · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Maria
Pairs where Maria shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Maria
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #96 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #88.
Nicola · Maria · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Stacey
In 1996 they stood at #96 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #88 and #2138.
Maria · Stacey · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Leanne
In 1996 they stood at #96 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #88 and #2006.
Maria · Leanne · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #96 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #88 and #1362.
Maria · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Louise | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Germanic, via French transmission | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /lu.ˈiz/ | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise is recorded with a Germanic, via French transmission origin, while Maria is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission origin.
- Louise and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- Louise's recorded meaning differs from Maria's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 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