Anna vs Orlaigh
Anna and Orlaighcompared 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 2013, Anna was ranked #9 and Orlaigh #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Anna was ranked #12 and Orlaigh #894 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #126 and Orlaigh #5687 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Orlaigh over time
Anna and Orlaigh appear together in 2 published lists, across 20 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Orlaigh in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
List by list
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Anna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Orlaigh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #9 in 2005, Orlaigh #254 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Anna #9, Orlaigh #440.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1988–2013
Anna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Orlaigh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Orlaigh #457 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Anna #12, Orlaigh #894.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Anna
Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1894.
Anna · Courtney · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1743.
Anna · Jodie · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1541.
Anna · Gemma · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #885.
Anna · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anna | Orlaigh |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5687 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 74/100 |
| 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); Orlaigh does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Orlaigh both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Orlaigh 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
Orlaigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1988
First recorded at #492 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2013
Highest recorded position: #254 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2013).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #5687 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls