Anna vs Phoebe
Anna and Phoebecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Phoebe #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Phoebe #30 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Phoebe #46 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Phoebe #72 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Phoebe #79 among girls in New Zealand.
Anna and Phoebe over time
Anna and Phoebe appear together in 5 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Phoebe in 2.
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.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Phoebe 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 2004, Phoebe moved ahead of Anna in England and Wales · Girls — #39 and #44 the year before became #50 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Phoebe changed places 9 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1998 and 2021, ending at #85 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Anna and Phoebe averaged 39.0 places apart, ending at #125 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Phoebe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #26 and #97.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Phoebe in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Phoebe #78 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Phoebe #97.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Phoebe in 22.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Phoebe #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2004: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #39 and #44; by 2004 that had become #50 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Phoebe #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Phoebe in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Phoebe #30 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Phoebe #30.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Phoebe in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anna #19 in 2001, Phoebe #45 in 2004.
The order changed in 2017: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #75 and #76; by 2017 that had become #80 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Phoebe #79.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1998–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Phoebe in 15.
Highest recorded here: Anna #41 in 2000, Phoebe #39 in 2004.
The order changed in 2017: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #56 and #58; by 2017 that had become #48 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Phoebe #72.
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 | Phoebe |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #65 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Phoebe does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Phoebe both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Phoebe doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Phoebe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls