Marilyn vs Mary
Marilyn and Marycompared 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 1957, Marilyn was ranked #82 and Mary #13 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1956, Marilyn was ranked #93 and Mary #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Marilyn was ranked #426 and Mary #116 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Marilyn was ranked #856 and Mary #130 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Marilyn was ranked #1541 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Marilyn and Mary over time
Marilyn and Mary appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marilyn in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Marilyn 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Marilyn #326 in 1971, Mary #1 in 1969.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Marilyn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 26.
Highest recorded here: Marilyn #1541 in 2024, Mary #122 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marilyn #1541, Mary #337.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1969–2023
Marilyn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 21.
Highest recorded here: Marilyn #326 in 1971, Mary #1 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Marilyn #856, Mary #130.
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 Mary
Pairs where Mary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mary vs Marie
In 1945 they stood at #67 and #73 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #518 and #45.
Mary · Marie · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mary vs Kirsten
Mary and Kirsten changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #518 and #510.
Mary · Kirsten · 64 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Mary vs Berit
Mary and Berit changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2015, ending at #378 and #545.
Mary · Berit · 70 shared years, 1945–2015 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Mary vs Jane
Mary and Jane changed places 14 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2013, ending at #505 and #576.
Mary · Jane · 61 shared years, 1945–2013 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Marilyn | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1541 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Marilyn has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Marilyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #28 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 recorded1952–1956
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1956).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1541 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls