Anita vs Laura
Anita and Lauracompared 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 1989, Anita was ranked #100 and Laura #9 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1983, Anita was ranked #86 and Laura #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Anita was ranked #430 and Laura #61 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Anita was ranked #905 and Laura #91 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anita was ranked #459 and Laura #141 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anita was ranked #2278 and Laura #303 among girls in England and Wales.
Anita and Laura over time
Anita and Laura appear together in 4 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anita in 1.
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.
Anita reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Laura 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Laura moved into the top 50 at #50 in 1981 as Anita fell out of it to #56, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Laura moved ahead of Anita in New Zealand · Girls — #49 and #57 the year before became #56 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Anita and Laura were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #303.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anita #436 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #130 and #131 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #905 and #91.
List by list
Norway · Girls70 shared years, 1945–2025
Anita held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Laura in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anita #4 in 1963, Laura #104 in 2017.
The order changed in 1999: Laura moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #153 and #179; by 1999 that had become #199 and #183.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anita #459, Laura #141.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2022
Anita held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Laura in 51.
Highest recorded here: Anita #74 in 1976, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order changed in 1972: Laura moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #75 and #86; by 1972 that had become #85 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anita #905, Laura #91.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anita held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 30.
Highest recorded here: Anita #436 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anita #2278, Laura #303.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1978–1989
Anita held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Laura in 8.
Highest recorded here: Anita #49 in 1980, Laura #9 in 1989.
The order changed in 1981: Laura moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #49 and #57; by 1981 that had become #56 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Anita #100, Laura #9.
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 | Anita | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #459 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Anita does not have one recorded yet.
- Anita has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Laura.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Anita 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
Anita
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #162 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 1963 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls