Anna vs Jolene
Anna and Jolenecompared 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 1979, Anna was ranked #6 and Jolene #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Anna was ranked #18 and Jolene #284 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Jolene #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Jolene #1894 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Jolene over time
Anna and Jolene appear together in 2 published lists, across 54 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jolene in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jolene reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Jolene fell — from #69 and #497 in 1976 to #23 and #856 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jolene in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Jolene #869 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Jolene #1894.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1976–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jolene in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #13 in 2010, Jolene #310 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Jolene #856.
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 | Jolene |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1894 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Jolene does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jolene.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Jolene doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Jolene
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #75 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1975–1979
Highest recorded position: #75 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1975–1979).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1894 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls