Mary vs Robyn
Mary and Robyncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Mary was ranked #112 and Robyn #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Mary was ranked #315 and Robyn #48 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1975, Mary was ranked #67 and Robyn #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Mary was ranked #134 and Robyn #67 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Mary was ranked #337 and Robyn #78 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1974, Mary was ranked #84 and Robyn #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Mary and Robyn over time
Mary and Robyn appear together in 5 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Robyn held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mary in 1.
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.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Robyn 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Robyn moved ahead of Mary in Northern Ireland · Girls — #144 and #201 the year before became #108 and #102.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Mary and Robyn changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1975, ending at #67 and #80.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Mary and Robyn averaged 10.9 places apart, ending at #84 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Mary and Robyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #112 and #19.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Mary #19 in 1952, Robyn #6 in 1953.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1982–2025
Mary held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Robyn in 19.
Highest recorded here: Mary #1 in 1982, Robyn #19 in 2025.
The order changed in 2007: Robyn moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #52 and #62; by 2007 that had become #57 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #112, Robyn #19.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mary held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Robyn in 24.
Highest recorded here: Mary #118 in 1997, Robyn #64 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mary #337, Robyn #78.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Mary held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Robyn in 21.
Highest recorded here: Mary #53 in 1997, Robyn #57 in 2019.
The order changed in 2010: Robyn moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #144 and #201; by 2010 that had become #108 and #102.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mary #134, Robyn #67.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974
Mary held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Robyn in 18.
Highest recorded here: Mary #19 in 1952, Robyn #6 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Mary #84, Robyn #85.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1954–1975
Mary held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Robyn in 17.
Highest recorded here: Mary #6 in 1954, Robyn #8 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Mary #67, Robyn #80.
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 | Robyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, feminine diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɑb.ɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robyn has a recorded origin (Germanic, feminine diminutive form); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Mary and Robyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robyn; Mary doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Robyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #7 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 recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls