Namewise

Anna vs Tania

Anna and Taniacompared 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 2009, Anna was ranked #9 and Tania #419 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2010, Anna was ranked #13 and Tania #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1991, Anna was ranked #16 and Tania #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1981, Anna was ranked #36 and Tania #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Tania #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Anna and Tania over time

Anna and Tania appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tania in 1.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Tania reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1979, Anna moved ahead of Tania in New Zealand · Girls — #11 and #9 the year before became #6 and #16.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anna and Tania changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1962 and 1981, ending at #36 and #95.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anna and Tania averaged 34.3 places apart, ending at #16 and #100.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anna and Tania were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #142 and #2440.

List by list

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Tania #460 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #142, Tania #2440.

  • New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1962–1991

    Anna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tania in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Tania #4 in 1968.

    The order changed in 1979: Anna moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #11 and #9; by 1979 that had become #6 and #16.

    Most recent shared year, 1991: Anna #16, Tania #100.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1966–2010

    Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tania in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #13 in 2010, Tania #245 in 1969.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2010: Anna #13, Tania #910.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1962–1981

    Anna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tania in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #36 in 1980, Tania #41 in 1966.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Anna #36, Tania #95.

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 Tania

Pairs where Tania 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 — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

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

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anna, Tania
FieldAnnaTania
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
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.Not yet recorded
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈa.na/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #23 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Tania does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anna and Tania both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anna; Tania 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

  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

Tania

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1962

    First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1962–1991

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1991).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls