Anna vs Shonagh
Anna and Shonaghcompared 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 Shonagh #339 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Shonagh #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2002, Anna was ranked #37 and Shonagh #4137 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Shonagh over time
Anna and Shonagh appear together in 1 published list, across 30 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Shonagh in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shonagh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Shonagh fell — from #70 and #542 in 1980 to #26 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Shonagh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 30 years, from 1980 to 2025, ending at #26 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1980–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shonagh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Shonagh #235 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Shonagh #885.
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 | Shonagh |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 74/100 |
| 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); Shonagh does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Shonagh both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Shonagh 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
Shonagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #542 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #235 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1980–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls