Anna vs Claire
Anna and Claire compared 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 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Claire #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Claire #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Claire #638 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Anna was ranked #62 and Claire #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Claire #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Claire #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Claire over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Anna and Claire over time
Anna and Claire appear together in 5 published lists, across 191 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Claire in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Anna 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2021, Claire moved ahead of Anna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #74 and #87 the year before became #85 and #79.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Claire changed places 13 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 2021, ending at #85 and #79.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Claire averaged 14.5 places apart, ending at #85 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Claire were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #142 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Anna #3 in 1980, Claire #23 in 1980.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #19 and #28 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #19 and #407.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Claire in 26.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Claire #10 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Claire #352.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Claire in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Claire #40 in 1990.
The order changed in 2021: Claire moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #74 and #87; by 2021 that had become #85 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Claire #79.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Claire in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Claire #90 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #142, Claire #1362.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1964–2013
Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Claire in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Claire #23 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Anna #62, Claire #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Claire in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Claire #26 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Claire #407.
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 Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #142 and #3035.
Anna · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #2278.
Anna · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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
Other comparisons involving Claire
Pairs where Claire shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #1362.
Nicola · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #1362.
Lily · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Poppy vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #92 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #1362.
Poppy · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #1362.
Sophia · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anna | Claire |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Latin, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /klɛʁ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Clara |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin.
- Anna and Claire both have 2 syllables.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Claire's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Claire a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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 #142 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls