Ann vs Ella
Ann and Ellacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Ann was ranked #404 and Ella #3 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Ann was ranked #277 and Ella #11 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Ella #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Ella #39 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Ella over time
Ann and Ella appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ann in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Ella 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 2000, Ella moved ahead of Ann in Norway · Girls — #140 and #158 the year before became #159 and #150.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Ella were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 68 years, from 1945 to 2023, ending at #404 and #3.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1945–2023
Ann held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Ella in 20.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Ella #3 in 2019.
The order changed in 2000: Ella moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #140 and #158; by 2000 that had become #159 and #150.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ann #404, Ella #3.
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Ella in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1970, Ella #3 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Ella moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #92 and #176; by 1998 that had become #152 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Ella #17.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ella in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Ella #6 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Ella #39.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2011
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ella in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ann #229 in 1998, Ella #11 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ann #277, Ella #11.
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 | Ella |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Norway · Girls #4 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Ann does not have one recorded yet.
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Ella.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Ann 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
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
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls