Ana vs Shonagh
Ana and Shonaghcompared 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 2002, Ana was ranked #286 and Shonagh #339 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ana was ranked #294 and Shonagh #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2002, Ana was ranked #431 and Shonagh #4137 among girls in England and Wales.
Ana and Shonagh over time
Ana and Shonagh appear together in 1 published list, across 22 years of shared records. Ana held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Shonagh in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shonagh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Ana 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 · Girls22 shared years, 1982–2025
Ana held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shonagh in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ana #228 in 2016, Shonagh #235 in 2004.
The order changed in 2005: Ana moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #242 and #235; by 2005 that had become #277 and #461.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ana #294, Shonagh #885.
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 | Ana | Shonagh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | As an internationally-used given name, traditionally interpreted as 'grace' or 'favour', via the Anna/Hannah lineage rooted in Hebrew hanan. This is very likely the name's real origin as commonly used — the official Maori dictionary's only entries for this exact spelling are an unrelated common noun ('cave, tunnel') and grammatical particles, none tagged as a personal name. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Anna — not Maori, despite superficial catalogue grouping | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 74/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ana has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Anna — not Maori, despite superficial catalogue grouping); Shonagh does not have one recorded yet.
- Ana and Shonagh both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ana; Shonagh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Ana
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1949–2025
Highest recorded position: #131 among girls in Norway, in 1980 (recorded 1949–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #391 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Shonagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #542 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #235 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1980–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls