Maria vs Nancy
Maria and Nancycompared 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 2011, Maria was ranked #14 and Nancy #482 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Nancy #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #91 and Nancy #81 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #97 and Nancy #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #120 and Nancy #260 among girls in Scotland.
Maria and Nancy over time
Maria and Nancy appear together in 4 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nancy in 0.
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.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Nancy 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Nancy moved ahead of Maria in England and Wales · Girls — #69 and #70 the year before became #71 and #67.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maria and Nancy changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #97 and #127.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maria rose about as far as Nancy fell — from #126 and #249 in 1945 to #14 and #482 in 2011.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Nancy were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1945 to 2011, ending at #14 and #482.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Maria #66 in 2018, Nancy #64 in 2018.
List by list
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1945–2011
Maria held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Nancy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #3 in 1982, Nancy #151 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Maria #14, Nancy #482.
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1965–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Nancy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #24 in 1968, Nancy #99 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Nancy #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nancy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Nancy #64 in 2018.
The order changed in 2017: Nancy moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #69 and #70; by 2017 that had become #71 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #91, Nancy #81.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2004–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Nancy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Maria #65 in 2008, Nancy #95 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #97, Nancy #127.
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 | Nancy |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Nancy does not have one recorded yet.
- Maria and Nancy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Nancy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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 #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Nancy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #249 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls