Anna vs Monica
Anna and Monicacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Anna was ranked #9 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Anna was ranked #14 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Anna was ranked #28 and Monica #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Anna was ranked #70 and Monica #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Monica #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Monica over time
Anna and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Monica in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Monica fell — from #46 and #315 in 1946 to #9 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Monica were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 69 years, from 1946 to 2017, ending at #9 and #542.
List by list
Norway · Girls69 shared years, 1946–2017
Anna held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Monica in 21.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anna #9, Monica #542.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Monica #1449.
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 | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| 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) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Monica is recorded with a Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) origin.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Monica's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls