A system and method of metadata search ranking is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a combination of popularity and/or relevancy to determine a search ranking for a given search result association. Given the exponential growth rate currently being experienced in the Internet community, the present invention provides one of the few methods by which searches of this vast distributed database can produce useful results ranked and sorted by usefulness to the searching web surfer. The present invention permits embodiments incorporating a Ranking System/Method (0100) further comprising a Session Manager (0101), Query Manager (0102), Popularity Sorter (0103), and Association (0104) functions. These components may be augmented in some preferred embodiments via the use of a Query Entry means (0155), Search Engine (0156); Data Repository (0157), Query Database (0158), and/or a Resource List (0159).