Anna vs Laoise
Anna and Laoisecompared 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 Laoise #328 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Laoise #124 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2010, Anna was ranked #63 and Laoise #5707 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Laoise over time
Anna and Laoise appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Laoise in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Laoise 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Laoise were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #26 and #124.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anna #31 in 2000, Laoise #2301 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1971–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Laoise in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Laoise #96 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Laoise #124.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Laoise in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Laoise #164 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #14, Laoise #328.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 1996–2010
Anna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Laoise in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Laoise #2301 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Anna #63, Laoise #5707.
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 | Laoise |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #124 (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); Laoise does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Laoise both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Laoise 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
Laoise
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #96 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #124 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls