Anna vs Elle
Anna and Ellecompared 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 Elle #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Elle #342 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Elle #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Elle #260 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Elle #583 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Elle over time
Anna and Elle appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Elle 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 England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anna #31 in 2000, Elle #93 in 2002.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Elle in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Elle #93 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Elle #583.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1993–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Elle in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Elle #250 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Elle #342.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1998–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Elle in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Elle #160 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Elle #189.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Elle in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Elle #89 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Elle #253.
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 | Elle |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #189 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Elle does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Elle both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Elle doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Elle
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #628 among girls in Norway in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2024
Highest recorded position: #89 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1998–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #342 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls