Anna vs Marie
Anna and Mariecompared 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 1982, Anna was ranked #6 and Marie #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Marie #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Marie #45 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #29 and Marie #556 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Marie #790 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Anna was ranked #56 and Marie #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Marie #1894 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Marie over time
Anna and Marie appear together in 6 published lists, across 215 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Marie in 0.
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.
Marie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1966, Anna moved ahead of Marie in New Zealand · Girls — #69 and #61 the year before became #60 and #75.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anna and Marie averaged 46.6 places apart, ending at #6 and #89.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Marie fell — from #79 and #44 in 1956 to #6 and #89 in 1982.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Marie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #45.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #26 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #29 and #556.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 77 of those years, Marie in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Marie #12 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Marie #45.
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Marie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Marie #19 in 1968.
The order changed in 1993: Anna moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #69 and #54; by 1993 that had become #57 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #29, Marie #556.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Marie #288 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Marie #1894.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1956–1982
Anna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Marie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Marie #44 in 1956.
The order changed in 1966: Anna moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #69 and #61; by 1966 that had become #60 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Anna #6, Marie #89.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Marie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #5 in 2017, Marie #197 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Marie #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1954–1965
Anna held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Marie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anna #56 in 1965, Marie #63 in 1955.
The order changed in 1957: Anna moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #95 and #78; by 1957 that had become #78 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Anna #56, Marie #100.
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 | Marie |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Norway · Girls #45 (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); Marie does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Marie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Marie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Marie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #45 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls