Mary vs Monica
Mary and Monica compared 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 2008, Mary was ranked #114 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Mary was ranked #130 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Mary was ranked #315 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Mary was ranked #329 and Monica #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Mary was ranked #378 and Monica #533 among girls in Norway.
Mary and Monica over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Mary and Monica over time
Mary and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Monica in 1.
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 Monica 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Mary and Monica changed places 8 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2015, ending at #378 and #533.
- Longest-running competitions
Mary and Monica were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #329 and #1229.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Mary #118 in 1997, Monica #274 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1946–2015
Mary held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Monica in 46.
Highest recorded here: Mary #59 in 1947, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Mary #378, Monica #533.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Mary held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Mary #1 in 1964, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Mary #130, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Mary held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Mary #118 in 1997, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #329, Monica #1229.
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
Other comparisons involving Monica
Pairs where Monica shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Monica
In 1964 they stood at #68 and #70 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2023 they were #316 and #727.
Jennifer · Monica · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Claire
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #75 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #339.
Monica · Claire · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Monica
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Monica fell — from #46 and #315 in 1946 to #9 and #542 in 2017.
Anna · Monica · 69 shared years, 1946–2017 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Mary | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1229 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Mary has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Mary doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Mary a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls