Anna vs Kayley
Anna and Kayleycompared 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 2023, Anna was ranked #14 and Kayley #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Kayley #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Anna was ranked #114 and Kayley #5669 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Kayley over time
Anna and Kayley appear together in 2 published lists, across 49 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kayley in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Kayley 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2022
Anna held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kayley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Kayley #293 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anna #114, Kayley #5669.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1995–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kayley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #13 in 2010, Kayley #320 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Kayley #885.
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 | Kayley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| 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); Kayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Kayley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Kayley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Kayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1995
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2023
Highest recorded position: #219 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1998–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls