Anna vs Keira
Anna and Keiracompared 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 Keira #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Keira #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Keira #244 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Anna was ranked #56 and Keira #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2017, Anna was ranked #80 and Keira #78 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Keira #415 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Keira over time
Anna and Keira appear together in 4 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Keira in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Keira changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 2005 and 2017, ending at #80 and #78.
- Mirrored each other
Over 40 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Keira fell — from #69 and #429 in 1976 to #26 and #718 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Keira were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 40 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #26 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Anna #33 in 2005, Keira #38 in 2006.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1976–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Keira in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Keira #117 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Keira #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Keira in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Keira #33 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Keira #415.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1998–2019
Anna held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Keira in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #5 in 2017, Keira #130 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anna #6, Keira #336.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 2005–2017
Anna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Keira in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anna #33 in 2005, Keira #38 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anna #80, Keira #78.
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 | Keira |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Keira does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Keira both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Keira doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Keira
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #429 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #33 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls