Anna vs Teresa
Anna and Teresacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Anna was ranked #8 and Teresa #571 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Anna was ranked #9 and Teresa #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Anna was ranked #10 and Teresa #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Teresa #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1974, Anna was ranked #57 and Teresa #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Teresa #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Teresa over time
Anna and Teresa appear together in 6 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Teresa in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Teresa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Anna in 1. 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 1961, Anna moved ahead of Teresa in New Zealand · Girls — #90 and #89 the year before became #84 and #90.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Teresa changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #26 and #885.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anna and Teresa averaged 37.3 places apart, ending at #10 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Teresa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 44 years, from 1946 to 2016, ending at #8 and #571.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Teresa in 12.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order changed in 1980: Anna moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #66 and #65; by 1980 that had become #70 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Teresa #885.
Norway · Girls44 shared years, 1946–2016
Anna held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #8 in 2016, Teresa #236 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Anna #8, Teresa #571.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Teresa #1449.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1957–1984
Anna held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Teresa in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Teresa #53 in 1973.
The order changed in 1961: Anna moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #90 and #89; by 1961 that had become #84 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Anna #10, Teresa #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1963–1974
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #49 in 1969, Teresa #86 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Anna #57, Teresa #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2013
Anna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #9 in 2009, Teresa #220 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Anna #9, Teresa #440.
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 | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, NO, 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 | 88/100 |
| 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); Teresa does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Teresa.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Teresa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls