Anna vs Lia
Anna and Liacompared 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 Lia #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Lia #196 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Lia #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Lia #491 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Lia over time
Anna and Lia appear together in 3 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lia in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Lia in 1. 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 Lia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #26 and #196.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anna #31 in 2000, Lia #283 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1972–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Lia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Lia #177 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Lia #196.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Lia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Lia #283 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Lia #491.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2001–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #5 in 2017, Lia #226 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #14, Lia #391.
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 | Lia |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #196 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Lia does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Lia.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Lia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Lia
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #428 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #177 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #196 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls