Mary vs Monica
Mary and Monicacompared 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 2024, Mary was ranked #337 and Monica #1449 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
Mary and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 150 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 Norway · Girls for 68 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #378 and #533.
- 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mary held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Mary #337, Monica #1449.
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 | 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 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| 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 #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls