Anna vs Poppy
Anna and Poppycompared 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 Poppy #8 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Poppy #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Poppy #24 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Poppy #105 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Poppy #41 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Poppy #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Anna and Poppy over time
Anna and Poppy appear together in 5 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Poppy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anna 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 Poppy 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, Poppy moved ahead of Anna in England and Wales · Girls — #39 and #43 the year before became #50 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Poppy changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 2009 and 2021, ending at #85 and #47.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Anna and Poppy averaged 55.4 places apart, ending at #125 and #8.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Poppy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Poppy #5 in 2014.
The order changed in 2004: Poppy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #39 and #43; by 2004 that had become #50 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Poppy #8.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1990–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Poppy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Poppy #89 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Poppy #105.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1998–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Poppy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Poppy #27 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Poppy #47.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 2005–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Poppy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Anna #33 in 2005, Poppy #37 in 2019.
The order changed in 2012: Poppy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #43 and #77; by 2012 that had become #81 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Poppy #41.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 2009–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Poppy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Anna #48 in 2017, Poppy #47 in 2021.
The order changed in 2018: Poppy moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #48 and #57; by 2018 that had become #86 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Poppy #47.
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 | Poppy |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Taken directly from the English word for the red flower. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /ˈpɒpi/ |
| 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 #45 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Poppy is recorded with a English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver origin.
- Anna and Poppy both have 2 syllables.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Poppy's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Poppy
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — 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: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls