Anna vs Josephine
Anna and Josephinecompared 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 2017, Anna was ranked #5 and Josephine #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Anna was ranked #22 and Josephine #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Josephine #241 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Josephine #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Josephine #295 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2016, Anna was ranked #56 and Josephine #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Josephine #267 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Josephine over time
Anna and Josephine appear together in 4 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Josephine 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.
Josephine 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Anna moved ahead of Josephine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #58 and #51 the year before became #52 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Josephine changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #26 and #483.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Josephine were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 63 years, from 1951 to 2025, ending at #23 and #241.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #483.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1951–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 63 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Josephine #238 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Josephine #241.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Josephine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Josephine #25 in 1964.
The order changed in 1971: Anna moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #58 and #51; by 1971 that had become #52 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Josephine #483.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Josephine #168 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Josephine #267.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2017
Anna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Josephine #229 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anna #5, Josephine #355.
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 | Josephine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| 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); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Josephine.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Josephine doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #241 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls