Maria vs Sara
Maria and Saracompared 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 Sara #43 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Maria was ranked #73 and Sara #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Sara #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Maria was ranked #95 and Sara #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #91 and Sara #97 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #97 and Sara #161 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #120 and Sara #164 among girls in Scotland.
Maria and Sara over time
Maria and Sara appear together in 5 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Maria held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Sara 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 3 of those lists, Sara 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 2013, Sara moved ahead of Maria in Norway · Girls — #16 and #19 the year before became #17 and #4.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maria and Sara changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1977 and 1992, ending at #73 and #89.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Maria and Sara averaged 16.9 places apart, ending at #91 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Sara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1947 to 2025, ending at #62 and #43.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Maria #66 in 2018, Sara #82 in 2017.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1947–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Sara in 16.
Highest recorded here: Maria #3 in 1982, Sara #4 in 2013.
The order changed in 2013: Sara moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #16 and #19; by 2013 that had become #17 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #62, Sara #43.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Sara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #23 in 1967, Sara #78 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Sara #127.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Sara #82 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #91, Sara #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Maria #49 in 2009, Sara #73 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #97, Sara #161.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1977–1992
Maria held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sara in 4.
Highest recorded here: Maria #36 in 1977, Sara #44 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Maria #73, Sara #89.
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 | Sara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). | A variant spelling of Sarah, traditionally interpreted as 'lady', 'princess', or 'noblewoman'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission | Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages |
| Pronunciation | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ | /ˈsɛrə/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) | Norway · Girls #43 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maria is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission origin, while Sara is recorded with a Hebrew, widely used across Arabic and other languages origin.
- Maria and Sara both have 2 syllables.
- Maria's recorded meaning differs from Sara's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Sara
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1947–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1947–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #43 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls