Aileen vs Annie
Aileen and Anniecompared 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 2018, Aileen was ranked #434 and Annie #24 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aileen was ranked #718 and Annie #33 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aileen was ranked #2411 and Annie #115 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2019, Aileen was ranked #464 and Annie #208 among girls in Norway.
Aileen and Annie over time
Aileen and Annie appear together in 4 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Aileen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Aileen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Annie 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 1997, Annie moved ahead of Aileen in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #164 and #187 the year before became #156 and #123.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aileen and Annie changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1967 and 2019, ending at #464 and #208.
- Longest-running competitions
Aileen and Annie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 30 years, from 1967 to 2019, ending at #464 and #208.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Aileen held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Annie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #81 in 1983, Annie #33 in 2025.
The order changed in 1997: Annie moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #164 and #187; by 1997 that had become #156 and #123.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aileen #718, Annie #33.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1967–2019
Aileen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Annie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #398 in 2016, Annie #208 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Aileen #464, Annie #208.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Annie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #1434 in 1996, Annie #108 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aileen #2411, Annie #115.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2018
Aileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Annie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #221 in 1997, Annie #24 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Aileen #434, Annie #24.
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 | Aileen | Annie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A diminutive of Anne, itself from the Hebrew root 'hanan' ('grace, favour') via Latin Anna. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | A diminutive of Anne, tracing to the Hebrew root 'hanan' via Latin Anna |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈæn.i/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Annie has a recorded origin (A diminutive of Anne, tracing to the Hebrew root 'hanan' via Latin Anna); Aileen does not have one recorded yet.
- Aileen and Annie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Aileen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Aileen
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #81 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Annie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #180 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #214 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls