Maria vs Nellie
Maria and Nelliecompared 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 Nellie #235 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Nellie #304 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #88 and Nellie #101 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #97 and Nellie #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #120 and Nellie #230 among girls in Scotland.
Maria and Nellie over time
Maria and Nellie appear together in 3 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nellie in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Nellie 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Nellie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Nellie #93 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #88, Nellie #101.
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 2007–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Nellie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #8 in 2008, Nellie #148 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #62, Nellie #235.
Republic of Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1964–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nellie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #33 in 1964, Nellie #232 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Nellie #304.
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 | Nellie |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #101 (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); Nellie does not have one recorded yet.
- Maria and Nellie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Nellie 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 #88 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nellie
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #101 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls