Angela vs Anna
Angela 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 2023, Angela was ranked #391 and Anna #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Angela was ranked #437 and Anna #15 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Anna #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Angela was ranked #88 and Anna #32 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Angela was ranked #79 and Anna #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #1229 and Anna #142 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Anna over time
Angela and Anna appear together in 6 published lists, across 251 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Angela in 2.
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.
Angela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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.
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 1980, Anna moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #5 and #6 the year before became #11 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 48 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Anna averaged 17.5 places apart, ending at #79 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Anna were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1229 and #142.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #34 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #26.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Anna in 47.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Anna #12 in 2013.
The order changed in 1979: Anna moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #55 and #67; by 1979 that had become #76 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Anna #26.
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1947–2022
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 61.
Highest recorded here: Angela #229 in 1959, Anna #4 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Angela #437, Anna #15.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls48 shared years, 1955–2003
Angela held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Anna in 17.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Anna #35 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Angela #79, Anna #60.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1956–1998
Angela held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Anna in 14.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Anna #3 in 1980.
The order changed in 1980: Anna moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #5 and #6; by 1980 that had become #11 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Angela #88, Anna #32.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 30.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Anna #31 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #1229, Anna #142.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2023
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anna in 14.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Anna #8 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Angela #391, Anna #14.
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 | Angela | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | 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); Angela does not have one recorded yet.
- Angela has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anna.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Angela doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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