Maria vs Sally
Maria and Sallycompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Maria was ranked #95 and Sally #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Maria was ranked #60 and Sally #479 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Maria was ranked #61 and Sally #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Sally #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #91 and Sally #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #97 and Sally #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Maria and Sally over time
Maria and Sally appear together in 5 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Sally 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.
Sally reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Maria in 2. 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 1975, Sally moved ahead of Maria in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #51 the year before became #43 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maria and Sally changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1979, ending at #61 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Maria and Sally averaged 37.0 places apart, ending at #95 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Sally were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #95 and #50.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #23 in 1967, Sally #153 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Sally #239.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1985
Maria held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sally in 10.
Highest recorded here: Maria #13 in 1966, Sally #36 in 1977.
The order changed in 1975: Sally moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #34 and #51; by 1975 that had become #43 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Maria #95, Sally #50.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Sally #144 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #91, Sally #1743.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1979
Maria held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sally in 3.
Highest recorded here: Maria #21 in 1967, Sally #50 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Maria #61, Sally #99.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1999–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #49 in 2009, Sally #230 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #97, Sally #337.
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 | Sally |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (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); Sally does not have one recorded yet.
- Maria and Sally both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Sally doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Sally
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls