Alice vs Anna
Alice 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 2024, Alice was ranked #57 and Anna #19 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Alice was ranked #182 and Anna #23 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alice was ranked #41 and Anna #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Alice was ranked #47 and Anna #99 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #49 and Anna #125 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #76 and Anna #53 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Alice was ranked #58 and Anna #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Alice and Anna over time
Alice and Anna appear together in 6 published lists, across 273 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Alice 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.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Alice 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Alice moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2012 as Anna fell out of it to #81, having been #43 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Alice moved ahead of Anna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #70 and #56 the year before became #58 and #82.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Alice and Anna averaged 33.1 places apart, ending at #49 and #125.
- Longest-running competitions
Alice and Anna were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1986 to 2021, ending at #58 and #85.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Alice held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 81.
Highest recorded here: Alice #123 in 2015, Anna #4 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alice #182, Anna #23.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alice held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 62.
Highest recorded here: Alice #29 in 2022, Anna #12 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alice #41, Anna #26.
New Zealand · Girls42 shared years, 1979–2021
Alice held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Anna in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alice #31 in 2018, Anna #3 in 1980.
The order changed in 2012: Alice moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #44 and #43; by 2012 that had become #37 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alice #47, Anna #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1986–2021
Alice held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Anna in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alice #37 in 2017, Anna #35 in 1986.
The order changed in 2010: Alice moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #70 and #56; by 2010 that had become #58 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alice #58, Anna #85.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alice held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Anna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alice #17 in 2016, Anna #31 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alice #49, Anna #125.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alice held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alice #35 in 2019, Anna #4 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alice #57, Anna #19.
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 | Alice | 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 | /ˈa.na/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Alice does not have one recorded yet.
- Alice has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anna.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Alice doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Alice
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #292 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2016 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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