Ann vs Caroline
Ann and Carolinecompared 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 1969, Ann was ranked #92 and Caroline #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Caroline #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2005, Ann was ranked #377 and Caroline #254 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Ann was ranked #404 and Caroline #306 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Caroline #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Caroline #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Caroline over time
Ann and Caroline appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Caroline held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ann 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.
Ann reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Caroline 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 1966, Caroline moved ahead of Ann in New Zealand · Girls — #63 and #67 the year before became #85 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ann and Caroline changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #443 and #381.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ann and Caroline averaged 39.0 places apart, ending at #443 and #381.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Caroline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1958 to 2023, ending at #404 and #306.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Caroline #182 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Caroline in 40.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Caroline #3 in 1979.
The order changed in 2024: Caroline moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #296 and #625; by 2024 that had become #556 and #504.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Caroline #381.
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1958–2023
Ann held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Caroline in 34.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Caroline #15 in 1990.
The order changed in 1986: Caroline moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #40 and #65; by 1986 that had become #42 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ann #404, Caroline #306.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Caroline in 27.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Caroline #182 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Caroline #1406.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1957–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Caroline in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ann #48 in 1958, Caroline #60 in 1964.
The order changed in 1966: Caroline moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #63 and #67; by 1966 that had become #85 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Caroline #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1957–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Caroline in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ann #35 in 1957, Caroline #80 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Caroline #96.
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 | Caroline |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 4 for Caroline.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #392 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls