Marley vs May
Marley and Maycompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Marley was ranked #227 and May #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Marley was ranked #556 and May #342 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Marley was ranked #377 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Marley and May over time
Marley and May appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. May held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
May reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Marley 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 — Marley #336 in 2018, May #289 in 2017.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Marley held the stronger position in 12 of those years, May in 17.
Highest recorded here: Marley #340 in 2022, May #325 in 2007.
The order changed in 2013: Marley moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #639 and #493; by 2013 that had become #492 and #515.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marley #377, May #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2008–2024
Marley held the stronger position in 2 of those years, May in 10.
Highest recorded here: Marley #336 in 2018, May #289 in 2017.
The order changed in 2020: May moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #336 and #361; by 2020 that had become #834 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marley #556, May #342.
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 | Marley | May |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #468 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Marley has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Marley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1522 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2019–2023
Highest recorded position: #90 among girls in New Zealand, in 2021 (recorded 2019–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 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: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls