Anna vs Frances
Anna and Francescompared 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 2017, Anna was ranked #5 and Frances #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Anna was ranked #11 and Frances #88 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Frances #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Frances #541 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Anna was ranked #56 and Frances #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Frances #425 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Frances over time
Anna and Frances appear together in 5 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Frances 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.
Frances reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Anna in none. 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 1960, Anna moved ahead of Frances in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #72 and #70 the year before became #72 and #76.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Frances were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #23 and #856.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #38 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #23 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2017, Frances #38 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Frances #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Frances #161 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Frances #425.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Anna held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Frances in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anna #56 in 1965, Frances #62 in 1954.
The order changed in 1960: Anna moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #72 and #70; by 1960 that had become #72 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Anna #56, Frances #98.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1956–1985
Anna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Frances in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 1982, Frances #66 in 1956.
The order changed in 1962: Anna moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #84 and #79; by 1962 that had become #83 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Anna #11, Frances #88.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2017
Anna held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Frances #227 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anna #5, Frances #432.
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 | Frances |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #425 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Frances does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Frances both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Frances doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Frances
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #38 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #425 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls