Anna vs Joan
Anna and Joancompared 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 1993, Anna was ranked #15 and Joan #644 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #29 and Joan #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1956, Anna was ranked #79 and Joan #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1956, Anna was ranked #95 and Joan #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Joan #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Joan over time
Anna and Joan appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Joan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Joan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1971, Anna moved ahead of Joan in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #58 and #44 the year before became #52 and #59.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Joan fell — from #46 and #351 in 1946 to #15 and #644 in 1993.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Joan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 55 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #29 and #898.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #31 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #29 and #898.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Joan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Joan #31 in 1964.
The order changed in 1971: Anna moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #58 and #44; by 1971 that had become #52 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #29, Joan #898.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Joan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Joan #1287 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Joan #1743.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1946–1993
Anna held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Joan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #14 in 1983, Joan #325 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Anna #15, Joan #644.
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 | Joan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Joan does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joan.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Joan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Joan
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #351 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #31 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1743 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls