Magdalena vs May
Magdalena and Maycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Magdalena was ranked #898 and May #342 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Magdalena was ranked #439 and May #365 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Magdalena was ranked #474 and May #422 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Magdalena was ranked #1603 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Magdalena and May over time
Magdalena and May appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. May held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Magdalena in 1.
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.
May reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Magdalena 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Magdalena and May changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1952 and 2023, ending at #474 and #422.
- Longest-running competitions
Magdalena and May were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 59 years, from 1952 to 2023, ending at #474 and #422.
List by list
Norway · Girls59 shared years, 1952–2023
Magdalena held the stronger position in 12 of those years, May in 47.
Highest recorded here: Magdalena #71 in 1984, May #25 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Magdalena #474, May #422.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Magdalena held the stronger position in 0 of those years, May in 29.
Highest recorded here: Magdalena #712 in 2012, May #325 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Magdalena #1603, May #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2007–2024
Magdalena held the stronger position in 8 of those years, May in 6.
Highest recorded here: Magdalena #285 in 2011, May #289 in 2017.
The order changed in 2017: May moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #448 and #515; by 2017 that had become #873 and #289.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Magdalena #898, May #342.
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 May
Pairs where May shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs May
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #23 and #481.
Anna · May · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elisabeth vs May
In 1945 they stood at #50 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #171 and #481.
Elisabeth · May · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gunn vs May
In 1945 they stood at #53 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2005 they were #546 and #244.
Gunn · May · 60 shared years, 1945–2005 · Started together, ended far apart
- Laila vs May
Laila and May changed places 18 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #408 and #481.
Laila · May · 79 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Magdalena | May |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 4 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Magdalena has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Magdalena
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #392 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2023
Highest recorded position: #71 among girls in Norway, in 1984 (recorded 1952–2023).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1603 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 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: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls