Anna vs Isla
Anna and Islacompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Isla #2 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Isla #2 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Isla #4 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Isla #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Isla #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Isla #13 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Anna and Isla over time
Anna and Isla appear together in 5 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anna in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 5 of those lists, and Isla 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 2008, Isla moved ahead of Anna in England and Wales · Girls — #58 and #65 the year before became #64 and #36.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Isla in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Isla #3 in 2014.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #58 and #65; by 2008 that had become #64 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Isla #4.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1979–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Isla in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Isla #11 in 2023.
The order changed in 2021: Isla moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #14 and #26; by 2021 that had become #21 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Isla #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Isla in 8.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Isla #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2017: Isla moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #4 and #12; by 2017 that had become #5 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Isla #8.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 2004–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Isla in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anna #33 in 2005, Isla #2 in 2018.
The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #46 and #50; by 2008 that had become #41 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Isla #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 2008–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Isla in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anna #48 in 2017, Isla #4 in 2021.
The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #63 and #72; by 2009 that had become #56 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Isla #4.
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 | Isla |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | A Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Scottish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /ˈaɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Islay |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin.
- Anna and Isla both have 2 syllables.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Isla's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Isla 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 #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Isla
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls