Maria vs Meghan
Maria and Meghancompared 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 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Meghan #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Maria was ranked #84 and Meghan #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #88 and Meghan #2278 among girls in England and Wales.
Maria and Meghan over time
Maria and Meghan appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Meghan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Meghan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Meghan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #88 and #2278.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1985–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Meghan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #27 in 1988, Meghan #150 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Meghan #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Meghan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Meghan #237 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #88, Meghan #2278.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2020
Maria held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Meghan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #49 in 2009, Meghan #119 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Maria #84, Meghan #397.
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 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
Side by side
| Field | Maria | Meghan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Meghan does not have one recorded yet.
- Maria and Meghan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Meghan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Meghan
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2020
Highest recorded position: #119 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2020).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls