Anna vs Jenna
Anna and Jennacompared 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 2022, Anna was ranked #16 and Jenna #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Jenna #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2004, Anna was ranked #40 and Jenna #93 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1991, Anna was ranked #41 and Jenna #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Jenna #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Jenna #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Jenna over time
Anna and Jenna appear together in 5 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jenna in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jenna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Anna 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Jenna were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #26 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Anna #9 in 1983, Jenna #12 in 1985.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1979–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Jenna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Jenna #107 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Jenna #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jenna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Jenna #148 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Jenna #1302.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2022
Anna held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Jenna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Jenna #74 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anna #16, Jenna #354.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1983–2004
Anna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jenna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #9 in 1983, Jenna #12 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Anna #40, Jenna #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1984–1991
Anna held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Jenna in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Jenna #33 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Anna #41, Jenna #99.
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 | Jenna |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (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); Jenna does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Jenna both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Jenna 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
Jenna
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #391 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 recorded1983–2004
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in New Zealand, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2004).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls