Anna vs Carol
Anna and Carolcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Anna was ranked #13 and Carol #663 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Anna was ranked #20 and Carol #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Anna was ranked #43 and Carol #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1968, Anna was ranked #56 and Carol #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #97 and Carol #3519 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Carol over time
Anna and Carol appear together in 4 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Carol reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Anna moved into the top 50 at #45 in 1968 as Carol fell out of it to #55, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1966, Anna moved ahead of Carol in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #56 and #55 the year before became #54 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Carol changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2010, ending at #13 and #663.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Carol were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #13 and #663.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2010 they were #13 and #663.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2010
Anna held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Carol in 18.
Highest recorded here: Anna #13 in 2010, Carol #34 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Anna #13, Carol #663.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Carol in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Carol #802 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #97, Carol #3519.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1954–1968
Anna held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Carol in 12.
Highest recorded here: Anna #51 in 1967, Carol #33 in 1956.
The order changed in 1966: Anna moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #56 and #55; by 1966 that had become #54 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1968: Anna #56, Carol #90.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1956–1971
Anna held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Carol in 10.
Highest recorded here: Anna #43 in 1971, Carol #19 in 1957.
The order changed in 1968: Anna moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #53 and #49; by 1968 that had become #45 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Anna #43, Carol #96.
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 | Carol |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3523 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Carol does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Carol both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Carol 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
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
Carol
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #26 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 recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #3523 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys