Amy vs Anna
Amy 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, Amy was ranked #253 and Anna #19 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #457 and Anna #23 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #138 and Anna #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #275 and Anna #53 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Amy was ranked #90 and Anna #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2012, Amy was ranked #82 and Anna #81 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #363 and Anna #125 among girls in England and Wales.
Amy and Anna over time
Amy and Anna appear together in 6 published lists, across 237 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Amy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Anna in 2. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Anna moved ahead of Amy in England and Wales · Girls — #62 and #68 the year before became #76 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amy and Anna changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1975 and 2012, ending at #90 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amy and Anna averaged 31.2 places apart, ending at #90 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Amy and Anna were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 37 years, from 1975 to 2012, ending at #90 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Amy #269 in 2008, Anna #4 in 2007.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #9 and #19 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #253 and #19.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Anna in 32.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 2004, Anna #12 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #138, Anna #26.
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1970–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 45.
Highest recorded here: Amy #269 in 2008, Anna #4 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #457, Anna #23.
New Zealand · Girls38 shared years, 1975–2012
Amy held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Anna in 13.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 1984, Anna #3 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amy #82, Anna #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls37 shared years, 1975–2012
Amy held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Anna in 3.
Highest recorded here: Amy #7 in 1983, Anna #35 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amy #90, Anna #71.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Amy held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Anna in 12.
Highest recorded here: Amy #9 in 1996, Anna #31 in 2000.
The order changed in 2013: Anna moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #62 and #68; by 2013 that had become #76 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amy #363, Anna #125.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Amy held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Anna in 18.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 1998, Anna #4 in 2016.
The order changed in 2007: Anna moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #14 and #20; by 2007 that had become #13 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amy #253, 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 | Amy | 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 | 2 | 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 #138 (2025) | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Amy does not have one recorded yet.
- Amy and Anna both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Amy 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
Amy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2012
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1975–2012).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #457 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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