Ann vs Barbara
Ann and Barbaracompared 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 1969, Ann was ranked #83 and Barbara #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1969, Ann was ranked #92 and Barbara #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ann was ranked #296 and Barbara #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Ann was ranked #452 and Barbara #543 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #2006 and Barbara #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Barbara over time
Ann and Barbara appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Ann held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barbara in 1.
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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ann 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 1959, Ann moved ahead of Barbara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #41 and #31 the year before became #44 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ann and Barbara changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2006 and #2440.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Barbara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #2440.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Barbara #848 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Ann held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Barbara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Barbara #43 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ann #296, Barbara #856.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Ann held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Barbara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Barbara #167 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Ann #452, Barbara #543.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Barbara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Barbara #848 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #2006, Barbara #2440.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Barbara in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Barbara #16 in 1953.
The order changed in 1959: Ann moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #41 and #31; by 1959 that had become #44 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #83, Barbara #98.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Barbara in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Barbara #10 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Barbara #89.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Ann
Pairs where Ann shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ann vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #4 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #319 and #896.
Ann · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ann vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #4 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #363 and #883.
Ann · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ann vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #4 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2019 they were #362 and #871.
Ann · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ann vs Elizabeth
In 1964 they stood at #4 and #6 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #443 and #76.
Ann · Elizabeth · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Barbara
Pairs where Barbara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #23 and #856.
Anna · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #62 and #856.
Sarah · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #856.
Maria · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Barbara vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #94.
Barbara · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ann | Barbara |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 1 | 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Barbara.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
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 #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls