Ann vs Jane
Ann and Janecompared 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 Jane #36 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Jane #39 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Ann was ranked #277 and Jane #246 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Ann was ranked #377 and Jane #576 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Jane over time
Ann and Jane appear together in 6 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Jane held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ann in 1.
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 2 of those lists, Jane 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Jane moved into the top 50 at #28 in 1957 as Ann fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1958, Jane moved ahead of Ann in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #41 the year before became #41 and #33.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ann and Jane changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #1160.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Jane were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 61 years, from 1945 to 2013, ending at #377 and #576.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jane in 32.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Jane #59 in 1964.
The order changed in 1994: Jane moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #64 and #76; by 1994 that had become #88 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Jane #213.
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1945–2013
Ann held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ann #10 in 1967, Jane #73 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Ann #377, Jane #576.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jane in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Jane #1160.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jane in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Jane #25 in 1966.
The order changed in 1958: Jane moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #35 and #41; by 1958 that had become #41 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Jane #39.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Jane in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Jane #28 in 1957.
The order changed in 1957: Jane moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #39 and #40; by 1957 that had become #53 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Jane #36.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2011
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jane in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ann #229 in 1998, Jane #85 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ann #277, Jane #246.
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 | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Jane.
- 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
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls