Ann vs Anne
Ann and Annecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Anne #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1969, Ann was ranked #92 and Anne #70 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Ann was ranked #404 and Anne #96 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Ann was ranked #439 and Anne #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Anne #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Anne #1036 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Anne over time
Ann and Anne appear together in 5 published lists, across 201 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ann in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ann 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ann and Anne changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #1036.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ann and Anne averaged 47.2 places apart, ending at #443 and #544.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Anne were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 75 years, from 1945 to 2023, ending at #404 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Anne #432 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2023
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anne in 75.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Anne #1 in 1945.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ann #404, Anne #96.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Anne in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Anne #4 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Anne #544.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Anne in 22.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Anne #432 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Anne #1036.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anne in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Anne #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Anne #61.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Anne in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Anne #13 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Anne #70.
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 | Ann | Anne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ann, Ane, Anna |
| 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 #443 (2025) | Norway · Girls #159 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Ann does not have one recorded yet.
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Anne.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Ann doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Ann a "medium" Data Confidence level and Anne a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Ann
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #82 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: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 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: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls