Anna vs Emily
Anna and Emily 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 Emily #5 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Emily #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Emily #7 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Emily #15 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Emily #71 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Emily #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Emily #44 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Emily 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 Emily over time
Anna and Emily appear together in 6 published lists, across 260 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Anna in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Emily in 2. 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 1983, Emily moved ahead of Anna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #38 and #40 the year before became #40 and #33.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Emily changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #19 and #5.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 45 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Emily averaged 44.3 places apart, ending at #85 and #35.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Emily were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #142 and #44.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Anna #12 in 2013, Emily #1 in 2011.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Emily in 34.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Emily #1 in 2011.
The order changed in 1992: Emily moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #62 and #65; by 1992 that had become #69 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Emily #6.
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1969–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Emily in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Emily #47 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Emily #71.
New Zealand · Girls46 shared years, 1975–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Emily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Emily #2 in 2013.
The order changed in 1992: Emily moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #16 and #28; by 1992 that had become #22 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Emily #15.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls45 shared years, 1977–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Emily in 39.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Emily #1 in 1998.
The order changed in 1983: Emily moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #38 and #40; by 1983 that had become #40 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Emily #35.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 30.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Emily #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #142, Emily #44.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Emily in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Emily #1 in 2013.
The order changed in 2008: Emily moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #10 and #11; by 2008 that had become #14 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Emily #5.
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 Emily
Pairs where Emily shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Emily vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #2138.
Emily · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Lauren
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #5 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #1166.
Emily · Lauren · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #816.
Emily · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #19 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #5 and #432.
Anna · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | Emily |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /ˈɛməli/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia |
| 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, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Emily is recorded with a Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia origin.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Emily.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Emily's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Emily 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
Emily
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #180 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls