Anna vs Jenny
Anna and Jenny 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 2019, Anna was ranked #6 and Jenny #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Jenny #29 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Jenny #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1964, Anna was ranked #62 and Jenny #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Jenny #2006 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Jenny 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 Jenny over time
Anna and Jenny appear together in 4 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jenny in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jenny reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Anna in 1. 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 Jenny were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #142 and #2006.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 80 of those years, Jenny in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Jenny #13 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Jenny #29.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1972–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Jenny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Jenny #184 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Jenny #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jenny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Jenny #256 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #142, Jenny #2006.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1997–2019
Anna held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jenny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #5 in 2017, Jenny #119 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anna #6, Jenny #424.
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 Jenny
Pairs where Jenny shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anne vs Jenny
Anne and Jenny were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #29.
Anne · Jenny · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Astrid vs Jenny
Astrid and Jenny were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #9 and #29.
Astrid · Jenny · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elin vs Jenny
Elin and Jenny were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #263 and #29.
Elin · Jenny · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elisabeth vs Jenny
Elisabeth and Jenny were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #171 and #29.
Elisabeth · Jenny · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — longest-running competitions.
- Anders vs Aksel
Anders and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #25.
Anders · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Aksel
Andreas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #25.
Andreas · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Aksel
Arne and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #25.
Arne · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Bjørn vs Aksel
Bjørn and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #56 and #25.
Bjørn · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · 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 | Jenny |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, Republic of Ireland, Norway |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Norway · Girls #29 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Jenny does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Jenny both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Jenny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
Jenny
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #190 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in Norway, in 2015 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls