Alanah vs Anna
Alanah and Annacompared 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 2010, Alanah was ranked #430 and Anna #10 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Alanah was ranked #905 and Anna #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alanah was ranked #2574 and Anna #125 among girls in England and Wales.
Alanah and Anna over time
Alanah and Anna appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alanah in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alanah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Anna 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Alanah fell — from #523 and #69 in 1992 to #905 and #25 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alanah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alanah #672 in 1997, Anna #31 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alanah #2574, Anna #125.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1992–2022
Alanah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alanah #225 in 2001, Anna #12 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alanah #905, Anna #25.
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 | Alanah | Anna |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈa.na/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2574 (2024) | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Alanah does not have one recorded yet.
- Alanah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anna.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Alanah doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alanah
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #523 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2022
Highest recorded position: #225 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1992–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2574 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls