Namewise

Anna vs Madison

Anna and Madisoncompared 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 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Madison #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Madison #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Madison #44 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Madison #135 among girls in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2018, Anna was ranked #86 and Madison #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Madison #166 among girls in England and Wales.

Anna and Madison over time

Anna and Madison appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Madison in 2.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Madison 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1998, Madison moved ahead of Anna in New Zealand · Girls — #34 and #40 the year before became #32 and #21.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Anna and Madison averaged 53.3 places apart, ending at #125 and #166.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Anna #41 in 2000, Madison #18 in 2000.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Anna held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Madison in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Madison #35 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Madison #166.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 19972024

    Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Madison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Madison #37 in 2006.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Madison #134.

  • New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 19942021

    Anna held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Madison in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #19 in 2001, Madison #14 in 2001.

    The order changed in 1998: Madison moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #34 and #40; by 1998 that had become #32 and #21.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Madison #44.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 19952025

    Anna held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Madison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Madison #86 in 2014.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Madison #148.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 19932018

    Anna held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Madison in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #41 in 2000, Madison #18 in 2000.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Anna #86, Madison #89.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Anna, Madison
FieldAnnaMadison
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈa.na/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #23 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Madison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Madison.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anna; Madison 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1956–2021

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Madison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1993

    First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1994–2023

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1994–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls