Anna vs Ebony
Anna and Ebonycompared 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 2019, Anna was ranked #6 and Ebony #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Ebony #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2006, Anna was ranked #79 and Ebony #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Ebony #902 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Ebony over time
Anna and Ebony appear together in 4 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ebony in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Anna #41 in 2000, Ebony #56 in 2002.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ebony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Ebony #106 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Ebony #902.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2019
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ebony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 2015, Ebony #193 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anna #6, Ebony #424.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1993–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ebony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2018, Ebony #352 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Ebony #856.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1993–2006
Anna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ebony in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anna #41 in 2000, Ebony #56 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Anna #79, Ebony #85.
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 | Ebony |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #902 (2024) |
| 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); Ebony does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Ebony.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Ebony 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
Ebony
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2006
Highest recorded position: #56 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1993–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #902 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls