Maria vs Mary
Maria 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #62 and Mary #518 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Maria was ranked #73 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Maria was ranked #83 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #88 and Mary #329 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #97 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #120 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
Maria and Mary over time
Maria and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 262 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Mary in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 6 of those lists, and Maria 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 1962, Maria moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #29 and #26 the year before became #28 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maria and Mary changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1991, ending at #83 and #89.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Maria and Mary averaged 22.9 places apart, ending at #73 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Mary were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #88 and #329.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 66 of those years, Mary in 9.
Highest recorded here: Maria #3 in 1982, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order changed in 1955: Maria moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #104 and #84; by 1955 that had become #79 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #62, Mary #518.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Mary in 45.
Highest recorded here: Maria #23 in 1967, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order changed in 2019: Maria moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #61 and #58; by 2019 that had become #63 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Mary #112.
New Zealand · Girls37 shared years, 1954–1991
Maria held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Mary in 13.
Highest recorded here: Maria #21 in 1967, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order changed in 1985: Maria moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #76 and #74; by 1985 that had become #59 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Maria #83, Mary #89.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mary in 1.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #88, Mary #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1952–1981
Maria held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Mary in 10.
Highest recorded here: Maria #13 in 1966, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order changed in 1962: Maria moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #29 and #26; by 1962 that had become #28 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Maria #73, Mary #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Mary in 1.
Highest recorded here: Maria #49 in 2009, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Maria moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #66 and #66; by 2006 that had become #79 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #97, Mary #134.
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 | Maria | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Maria and Mary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Mary doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
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