Anna vs Carley
Anna and Carleycompared 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 2002, Anna was ranked #15 and Carley #339 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Carley #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Carley #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Carley over time
Anna and Carley appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Carley in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Carley 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.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Carley fell — from #65 and #516 in 1984 to #26 and #885 in 2025.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anna #31 in 2000, Carley #583 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Carley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Carley #583 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Carley #5891.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1984–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Carley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Carley #442 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Carley #885.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Anna
Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1894.
Anna · Courtney · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1743.
Anna · Jodie · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1541.
Anna · Gemma · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #885.
Anna · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anna | Carley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Carley does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Carley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Carley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Carley
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls