Allison vs Anne
Allison 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, Allison was ranked #86 and Anne #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #631 and Anne #631 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #3318 and Anne #1036 among girls in England and Wales.
Allison and Anne over time
Allison and Anne appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Allison in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Allison 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Allison and Anne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #631 and #631.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Allison #164 in 1966, Anne #4 in 1965.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anne in 53.
Highest recorded here: Allison #164 in 1966, Anne #4 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #631, Anne #631.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anne in 27.
Highest recorded here: Allison #1317 in 1999, Anne #432 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #3318, Anne #1036.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1965–1976
Allison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Anne in 11.
Highest recorded here: Allison #63 in 1971, Anne #26 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Allison #86, Anne #80.
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 | Allison | 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, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #631 (2024) | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Allison does not have one recorded yet.
- Allison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anne.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Allison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Allison 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
Allison
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1965–1980
Highest recorded position: #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1965–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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