Namewise

Anna vs Siobhán

Anna and Siobháncompared 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 2019, Anna was ranked #6 and Siobhán #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Siobhán #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Siobhán #3705 among girls in England and Wales.

Anna and Siobhán over time

Anna and Siobhán appear together in 3 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Siobhán in 1.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Siobhán reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2025

    Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Siobhán in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Siobhán #15 in 1971.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Siobhán #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Siobhán in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Siobhán #138 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #142, Siobhán #3705.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2019

    Anna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Siobhán in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 2019, Siobhán #133 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Anna #6, Siobhán #336.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Anna

Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Siobhán

Pairs where Siobhán shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anna, Siobhán
FieldAnnaSiobhán
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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.Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'.
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmissionIrish
Pronunciation/ˈa.na//ʃɪˈvɔːn/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedChevonne, Shivaun
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #23 (2025)Republic of Ireland #90 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Siobhán is recorded with a Irish origin.
  • Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
  • Anna's recorded meaning differs from Siobhán's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Anna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Anna

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1956–2021

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #142 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Siobhán

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #35 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls