Ann vs Helen
Ann and Helencompared 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 Helen #23 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Helen #37 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Ann was ranked #277 and Helen #311 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Helen #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Ann was ranked #404 and Helen #485 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Helen #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Helen over time
Ann and Helen appear together in 6 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ann in 2.
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, Helen 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 Helen changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2022, ending at #404 and #485.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ann and Helen averaged 36.3 places apart, ending at #443 and #381.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Helen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1945 to 2022, ending at #404 and #485.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Helen #108 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2022
Ann held the stronger position in 70 of those years, Helen in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Helen #93 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ann #404, Helen #485.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Helen in 22.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Helen #11 in 1966.
The order changed in 2022: Helen moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #363 and #390; by 2022 that had become #502 and #389.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Helen #381.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Helen #108 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Helen #885.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Helen #9 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Helen #37.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helen in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Helen #12 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Helen #23.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2011
Ann held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Helen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ann #229 in 1998, Helen #132 in 1999.
The order changed in 2011: Ann moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #439 and #198; by 2011 that had become #277 and #311.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ann #277, Helen #311.
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 | Helen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The English form of Greek Helene. The meaning is genuinely debated among scholars — likely from Greek 'helene' ('torch'), though some suggest a connection to 'selene' ('moon'). In mythology, Helen's abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War; the name's continued Christian use stems from Saint Helena. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, meaning disputed |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Ann does not have one recorded yet.
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Helen.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; 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 Helen 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
Helen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #149 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #438 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls