Ann vs Joanne
Ann and Joannecompared 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 Joanne #4 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Joanne #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Ann was ranked #384 and Joanne #384 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Ann was ranked #502 and Joanne #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Joanne #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Joanne over time
Ann and Joanne appear together in 4 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Joanne held the stronger position in more years in 3 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 3 of those lists, and Joanne 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Joanne moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1957 as Ann fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1957, Joanne moved ahead of Ann in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #46 the year before became #35 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ann and Joanne changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Joanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 58 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #502 and #747.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Joanne #168 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2022
Ann held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Joanne in 6.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Joanne #29 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ann #502, Joanne #747.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Joanne in 23.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Joanne #168 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Ann moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1640 and #1469; by 2024 that had become #1406 and #2000.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Joanne #2000.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Joanne in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ann #31 in 1955, Joanne #5 in 1970.
The order changed in 1957: Joanne moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #34 and #46; by 1957 that had become #35 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Joanne #5.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Joanne in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Joanne #4 in 1969.
The order changed in 1957: Joanne moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #39 and #51; by 1957 that had become #53 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Joanne #4.
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 | Joanne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A variant of Joan/Johanne, ultimately from the same Hebrew-via-Greek-via-Old-French tradition as John (Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious') — sometimes also read as a blend of Jo and Anne. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes |
| Pronunciation | /d͡ʒoʊ.ˈæn/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joanne has a recorded origin (English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes); Ann does not have one recorded yet.
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Joanne.
- A meaning is recorded for Joanne; Ann doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Joanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #77 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls