Anna vs Linda
Anna and Lindacompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Anna was ranked #6 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #9 and Linda #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #29 and Linda #376 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Anna was ranked #35 and Linda #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Linda #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Linda over time
Anna and Linda appear together in 5 published lists, across 221 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Linda in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Linda 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Anna moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1971 as Linda fell out of it to #52, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Anna moved ahead of Linda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #44 and #39 the year before became #41 and #44.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Linda averaged 36.1 places apart, ending at #35 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Linda were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1954 to 1986, ending at #35 and #99.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #28 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #718.
List by list
Norway · Girls79 shared years, 1945–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Linda in 32.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Linda #1 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #29, Linda #376.
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Linda in 27.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order changed in 1991: Anna moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #66 and #55; by 1991 that had become #62 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Linda #718.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Linda in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Linda #12 in 1963.
The order changed in 1979: Anna moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #44 and #39; by 1979 that had become #41 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Anna #35, Linda #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Linda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Linda #1406.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1956–1979
Anna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Linda in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 1979, Linda #7 in 1957.
The order changed in 1971: Anna moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #48 and #38; by 1971 that had become #43 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Anna #6, Linda #76.
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 | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, 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); Linda does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Linda both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Linda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls