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 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Tania #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Tania over time
Anna and Tania appear together in 4 published lists, across 105 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Anna #125, Tania #2000.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Anna | Tania |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); 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
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
Tania
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1962–1991
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1991).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls