Anna vs Kelly
Anna and Kellycompared 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 2021, Anna was ranked #9 and Kelly #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2019, Anna was ranked #15 and Kelly #479 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Kelly #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Anna was ranked #32 and Kelly #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Kelly #790 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Anna was ranked #57 and Kelly #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Kelly #1672 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Kelly over time
Anna and Kelly appear together in 6 published lists, across 187 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kelly in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Kelly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Kelly changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1964 and 1995, ending at #57 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Kelly averaged 23.9 places apart, ending at #57 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Kelly were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1964 to 1995, ending at #57 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Anna #3 in 1980, Kelly #3 in 1978.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Kelly in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Kelly #35 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Kelly #404.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–1995
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kelly in 21.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Kelly #6 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Anna #57, Kelly #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Kelly #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Kelly #1672.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1970–1998
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kelly in 10.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Kelly #3 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Anna #32, Kelly #89.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1967–2019
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Kelly #380 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anna #15, Kelly #479.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 2019, Kelly #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #9, Kelly #446.
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 | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| 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); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Kelly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Kelly 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
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1672 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls