Alison vs Anne
Alison and Annecompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Alison was ranked #25 and Anne #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1972, Alison was ranked #68 and Anne #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Anne #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Alison was ranked #370 and Anne #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Anne #1036 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Anne over time
Alison and Anne appear together in 4 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alison 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls, Alison moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1989 as Anne fell out of it to #55, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1967, Alison moved ahead of Anne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #28 the year before became #31 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Anne changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1603 and #1036.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Anne averaged 39.2 places apart, ending at #25 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Anne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #544.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Anne #432 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Anne in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Anne #4 in 1965.
The order changed in 1989: Alison moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #58 and #40; by 1989 that had become #33 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Anne #544.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Anne in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Anne #432 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Anne moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1402 and #1505; by 2022 that had become #1948 and #1416.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Anne #1036.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Alison held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Anne in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alison #22 in 1972, Anne #11 in 1954.
The order changed in 1967: Alison moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #31 and #28; by 1967 that had become #31 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Alison #25, Anne #80.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1954–1972
Alison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Anne in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Anne #13 in 1954.
The order changed in 1966: Alison moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #48 and #42; by 1966 that had become #30 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Alison #68, Anne #91.
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 | Alison | Anne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɑː.nə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ann, Ane, Anna |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #159 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anne.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alison a "medium" Data Confidence level and Anne a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls