Maria vs Sandra
Maria and Sandracompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1980, Maria was ranked #55 and Sandra #98 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #62 and Sandra #257 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Maria was ranked #72 and Sandra #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Maria was ranked #73 and Sandra #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #73 and Sandra #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #91 and Sandra #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Maria and Sandra over time
Maria and Sandra appear together in 6 published lists, across 222 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sandra in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Sandra reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Maria moved ahead of Sandra in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #76 and #66 the year before became #73 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maria and Sandra changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1981, ending at #73 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Maria and Sandra averaged 12.9 places apart, ending at #73 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Sandra were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 75 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #62 and #257.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Maria #23 in 1967, Sandra #14 in 1965.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 75 of those years, Sandra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #3 in 1982, Sandra #20 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #62, Sandra #257.
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Sandra in 17.
Highest recorded here: Maria #23 in 1967, Sandra #14 in 1965.
The order changed in 1981: Maria moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #42 and #35; by 1981 that had become #34 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #73, Sandra #736.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sandra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Sandra #534 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #91, Sandra #2771.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1952–1981
Maria held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sandra in 16.
Highest recorded here: Maria #13 in 1966, Sandra #13 in 1961.
The order changed in 1981: Maria moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #76 and #66; by 1981 that had become #73 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Maria #73, Sandra #91.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1954–1980
Maria held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sandra in 21.
Highest recorded here: Maria #21 in 1967, Sandra #3 in 1962.
The order changed in 1976: Maria moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #69 and #65; by 1976 that had become #48 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Maria #55, Sandra #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2017
Maria held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sandra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #49 in 2009, Sandra #351 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Maria #72, Sandra #432.
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 | Sandra |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) | Norway · Girls #257 (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); Sandra does not have one recorded yet.
- Maria and Sandra both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; Sandra 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
Sandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #351 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1962 (recorded 1954–1980).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #257 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls