Anna vs Shannon
Anna and Shannoncompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Anna was ranked #19 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Anna was ranked #70 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Shannon over time
Anna and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 0.
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.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Anna in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Anna moved into the top 50 at #50 in 2004 as Shannon fell out of it to #54, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Anna moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #39 and #35 the year before became #50 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Shannon averaged 27.4 places apart, ending at #70 and #50.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #63 and #490 in 1974 to #26 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #26 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Anna moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #39 and #35; by 2004 that had become #50 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Shannon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Anna moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #18 and #12; by 2000 that had become #12 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001
Anna held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Anna #19, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1974–1998
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shannon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anna #36 in 1980, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order changed in 1997: Shannon moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #53 and #58; by 1997 that had become #68 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Anna #70, Shannon #50.
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 | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| 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); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Shannon 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
Shannon
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls