Angela vs Vanessa
Angela and Vanessacompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Angela was ranked #96 and Vanessa #71 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Angela was ranked #72 and Vanessa #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Angela was ranked #437 and Vanessa #181 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Angela was ranked #391 and Vanessa #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #1229 and Vanessa #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Vanessa over time
Angela and Vanessa appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Vanessa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Angela in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, Vanessa in 1. 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 1992, Vanessa moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #71 and #75 the year before became #96 and #71.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Vanessa changed places 10 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 2001, ending at #72 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Vanessa averaged 12.7 places apart, ending at #72 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Vanessa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1229 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Vanessa in 34.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order changed in 2025: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #372 and #504; by 2025 that had become #608 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Vanessa #413.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1970–2022
Angela held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Vanessa in 31.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 1978, Vanessa #138 in 2012.
The order changed in 1987: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #359 and #493; by 1987 that had become #447 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Angela #437, Vanessa #181.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1963–2001
Angela held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Vanessa in 7.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Angela #72, Vanessa #93.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Vanessa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #1229, Vanessa #719.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1967–1992
Angela held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Vanessa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order changed in 1992: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #71 and #75; by 1992 that had become #96 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Angela #96, Vanessa #71.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2023
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Vanessa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Angela #314 in 1997, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Angela #391, Vanessa #391.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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 #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Angela and Vanessa both have 3 syllables.
- 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls