Anna vs Candice
Anna and Candicecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Anna was ranked #20 and Candice #384 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Candice #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Anna was ranked #35 and Candice #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #126 and Candice #3218 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Candice over time
Anna and Candice appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Candice in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Candice reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Anna 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Candice in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Candice #448 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #126, Candice #3218.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1980–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Candice in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Candice #406 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Candice #856.
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 | Anna | Candice |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #856 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Candice does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Candice.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Candice doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Candice
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #542 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–1986
Highest recorded position: #72 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1981–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #3218 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls