Alyson vs Anna
Alyson 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 1999, Alyson was ranked #344 and Anna #18 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alyson was ranked #883 and Anna #21 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Alyson was ranked #4709 and Anna #126 among girls in England and Wales.
Alyson and Anna over time
Alyson and Anna appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alyson in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alyson 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1968–2021
Alyson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alyson #300 in 1989, Anna #16 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alyson #883, Anna #21.
England and Wales · Girls14 shared years, 1996–2023
Alyson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alyson #1755 in 1996, Anna #31 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alyson #4709, Anna #126.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Anna
Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #3035.
Anna · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #2278.
Anna · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #885.
Anna · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alyson | 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 #4709 (2023) | 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); Alyson does not have one recorded yet.
- Alyson has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anna.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Alyson doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alyson
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2021
Highest recorded position: #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1989 (recorded 1968–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4709 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
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 #142 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls