Anna vs Shannan
Anna and Shannancompared 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 2002, Anna was ranked #15 and Shannan #339 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anna was ranked #23 and Shannan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2009, Anna was ranked #64 and Shannan #5556 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Shannan over time
Anna and Shannan appear together in 2 published lists, across 24 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shannan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shannan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls14 shared years, 1996–2009
Anna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Shannan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Shannan #594 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Anna #64, Shannan #5556.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1993–2023
Anna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shannan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #20 in 2007, Shannan #232 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anna #23, Shannan #856.
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 | Shannan |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #856 (2023) |
| 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); Shannan does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Shannan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Shannan 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
Shannan
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #320 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #232 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1995 (recorded 1993–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2023.
Republic of Ireland · Girls