Anna vs Mellisa
Anna and Mellisacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Anna was ranked #16 and Mellisa #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2018, Anna was ranked #85 and Mellisa #4684 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Mellisa over time
Anna and Mellisa appear together in 2 published lists, across 28 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mellisa in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Mellisa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anna #31 in 2000, Mellisa #1697 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 1996–2018
Anna held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mellisa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Mellisa #1697 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Anna #85, Mellisa #4684.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1976–2009
Anna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mellisa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #16 in 2009, Mellisa #389 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Anna #16, Mellisa #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 | Mellisa |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4684 (2018) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Mellisa does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Mellisa.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Mellisa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Mellisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #429 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2009
Highest recorded position: #389 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1976–2009).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2018
Most recently recorded at #4684 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018.
England and Wales · Girls