Namewise

Maya vs Phoebe

Maya and Phoebecompared 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, Maya was ranked #15 and Phoebe #17 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Maya was ranked #19 and Phoebe #46 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Maya was ranked #47 and Phoebe #30 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Maya was ranked #40 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2025, Maya was ranked #53 and Phoebe #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Maya was ranked #72 and Phoebe #56 among girls in New Zealand.

Maya and Phoebe over time

Maya and Phoebe appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Phoebe held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Maya in 2.

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.

Phoebe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Maya 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 2014, Maya moved ahead of Phoebe in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #63 and #61 the year before became #43 and #61.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Maya and Phoebe averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #15 and #17.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Maya #15 in 2024, Phoebe #17 in 2024.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Maya held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Phoebe in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #15 in 2024, Phoebe #17 in 2024.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #15, Phoebe #17.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 19972025

    Maya held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Phoebe in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #17 in 2024, Phoebe #78 in 2022.

    The order changed in 2004: Maya moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #233 and #212; by 2004 that had become #149 and #476.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #40, Phoebe #97.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 20012025

    Maya held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Phoebe in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #28 in 2021, Phoebe #39 in 2004.

    The order changed in 2014: Maya moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #63 and #61; by 2014 that had become #43 and #61.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #53, Phoebe #65.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 19992024

    Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phoebe in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #47 in 2024, Phoebe #30 in 2024.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #47, Phoebe #30.

  • New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 20032023

    Maya held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Phoebe in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #68 in 2004, Phoebe #45 in 2004.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Maya #72, Phoebe #56.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Maya, Phoebe
FieldMayaPhoebe
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #40 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #65 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Maya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Phoebe.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Maya

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1961

    First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Phoebe

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1985

    First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls