Anna vs Rachael
Anna and Rachaelcompared 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 2017, Anna was ranked #5 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Anna was ranked #25 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Anna was ranked #30 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Anna was ranked #54 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Rachael #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Rachael over time
Anna and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rachael in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Rachael changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1970 and 2001, ending at #54 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Rachael averaged 14.4 places apart, ending at #54 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Rachael were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 32 years, from 1970 to 2001, ending at #54 and #100.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #19 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #5 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Anna held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Rachael in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anna #25, Rachael #747.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1970–2001
Anna held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rachael in 9.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Rachael #41 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Anna #54, Rachael #100.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Rachael #3318.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1969–1994
Anna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rachael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Rachael #25 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Anna #30, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anna #5, Rachael #432.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Rachael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls