Anna vs Ellen
Anna and Ellencompared 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 Ellen #150 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Ellen #208 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Ellen #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Anna was ranked #28 and Ellen #73 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Anna was ranked #53 and Ellen #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Ellen #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Ellen #736 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Ellen over time
Anna and Ellen appear together in 5 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ellen in 0.
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.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1976, Anna moved ahead of Ellen in Norway · Girls — #42 and #34 the year before became #31 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Ellen changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #26 and #166.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Anna and Ellen averaged 59.6 places apart, ending at #19 and #150.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Ellen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #208.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Ellen in 31.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Ellen #15 in 1955.
The order changed in 1976: Anna moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #42 and #34; by 1976 that had become #31 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Ellen #208.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Ellen in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Ellen #23 in 2002.
The order changed in 2002: Anna moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #26 and #24; by 2002 that had become #21 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Ellen #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ellen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Ellen #63 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Ellen #736.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ellen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Ellen #21 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Ellen #150.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Ellen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #41 in 1991, Ellen #68 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Anna #53, Ellen #73.
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 | Ellen |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| 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); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Ellen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls