Anna vs Jennifer
Anna and Jennifercompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Anna was ranked #14 and Jennifer #493 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Anna was ranked #16 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Anna was ranked #26 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Anna was ranked #60 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Jennifer #483 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Jennifer over time
Anna and Jennifer appear together in 6 published lists, across 263 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jennifer in 1.
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.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 1998, Anna moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #68 and #60 the year before became #70 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Jennifer changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1954 and 2003, ending at #60 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Jennifer averaged 37.0 places apart, ending at #60 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Jennifer were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 50 years, from 1954 to 2003, ending at #60 and #88.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #483.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Jennifer in 31.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Jennifer #4 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Jennifer #413.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2020
Anna held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Jennifer #187 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Anna #14, Jennifer #493.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls50 shared years, 1954–2003
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jennifer in 41.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Jennifer #1 in 1956.
The order changed in 1998: Anna moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #68 and #60; by 1998 that had become #70 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Anna #60, Jennifer #88.
New Zealand · Girls45 shared years, 1956–2003
Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jennifer in 15.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Jennifer #4 in 1957.
The order changed in 1973: Anna moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #40 and #30; by 1973 that had become #27 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Anna #26, Jennifer #84.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Jennifer #483.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Anna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anna #16, Jennifer #354.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Jennifer's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls