Anna vs Kirsty
Anna and Kirstycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Anna was ranked #12 and Kirsty #894 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Anna was ranked #14 and Kirsty #311 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1993, Anna was ranked #23 and Kirsty #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1991, Anna was ranked #41 and Kirsty #62 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Kirsty #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #126 and Kirsty #4709 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Kirsty over time
Anna and Kirsty appear together in 5 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kirsty in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Kirsty reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anna and Kirsty averaged 44.0 places apart, ending at #23 and #76.
- Mirrored each other
Over 35 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Kirsty fell — from #64 and #402 in 1973 to #12 and #894 in 2013.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Kirsty were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1973 to 2013, ending at #12 and #894.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #53 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2023 they were #126 and #4709.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1973–2013
Anna held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Kirsty in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Kirsty #119 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Anna #12, Kirsty #894.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Kirsty in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Kirsty #53 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #126, Kirsty #4709.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1971–1993
Anna held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kirsty in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Kirsty #42 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Anna #23, Kirsty #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1973–1991
Anna held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kirsty in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Kirsty #59 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Anna #41, Kirsty #62.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2011
Anna held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kirsty in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #9 in 2005, Kirsty #33 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Anna #14, Kirsty #311.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Anna
Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #3035.
Anna · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #2278.
Anna · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #885.
Anna · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anna | Kirsty |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Scotland · Girls #638 (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); Kirsty does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Kirsty both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Kirsty 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 #142 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kirsty
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #92 among girls in New Zealand in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2011
Highest recorded position: #33 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2011).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4709 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls