Martha vs Nancy
Martha and Nancycompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Martha was ranked #159 and Nancy #81 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Martha was ranked #352 and Nancy #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Martha was ranked #110 and Nancy #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Martha was ranked #230 and Nancy #260 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Martha was ranked #232 and Nancy #482 among girls in Norway.
Martha and Nancy over time
Martha and Nancy appear together in 4 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Martha held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nancy 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.
Martha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Nancy 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 2016, Nancy moved ahead of Martha in England and Wales · Girls — #67 and #71 the year before became #75 and #70.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Martha and Nancy changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #110 and #127.
- Longest-running competitions
Martha and Nancy were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1945 to 2011, ending at #232 and #482.
List by list
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1945–2011
Martha held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Nancy in 14.
Highest recorded here: Martha #134 in 1951, Nancy #151 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Martha #232, Nancy #482.
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1965–2025
Martha held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Nancy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Martha #125 in 1965, Nancy #99 in 2025.
The order changed in 2019: Nancy moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #235 and #280; by 2019 that had become #325 and #201.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Martha #352, Nancy #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Martha held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nancy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Martha #67 in 2015, Nancy #64 in 2018.
The order changed in 2016: Nancy moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #67 and #71; by 2016 that had become #75 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Martha #159, Nancy #81.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2004–2024
Martha held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nancy in 3.
Highest recorded here: Martha #76 in 2023, Nancy #95 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Martha #110, Nancy #127.
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 | Martha | Nancy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #225 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martha and Nancy both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Martha
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #158 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #67 among girls in England and Wales, in 2015 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #225 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Nancy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #249 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls