Anna vs Majella
Anna and Majellacompared 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 2001, Anna was ranked #13 and Majella #343 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Anna was ranked #16 and Majella #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 1999, Anna was ranked #39 and Majella #3900 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Majella over time
Anna and Majella appear together in 1 published list, across 36 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Majella in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Majella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Majella were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2009, ending at #16 and #893.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2009
Anna held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Majella in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #16 in 2009, Majella #78 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Anna #16, Majella #893.
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 | Majella |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #893 (2009) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Majella does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Majella.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Majella 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
Majella
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #95 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2009
Highest recorded position: #78 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2009).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2009
Most recently recorded at #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2009.
Republic of Ireland · Girls