Anna vs Zara
Anna and Zaracompared 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 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Zara #64 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Zara #490 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Zara #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Zara #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Zara #36 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Zara #69 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Zara #74 among girls in New Zealand.
Anna and Zara over time
Anna and Zara appear together in 6 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Zara in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Zara in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Zara moved into the top 50 at #48 in 2009 as Anna fell out of it to #51, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Zara moved ahead of Anna in England and Wales · Girls — #70 and #72 the year before became #73 and #68.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Anna and Zara averaged 38.1 places apart, ending at #125 and #69.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Zara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 33 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #23 and #490.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Anna #48 in 2017, Zara #23 in 2016.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1975–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Zara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Zara #43 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Zara #66.
Norway · Girls33 shared years, 1965–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Zara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Zara #260 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Zara #490.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Zara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Zara #66 in 2019.
The order changed in 2016: Zara moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #70 and #72; by 2016 that had become #73 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Zara #69.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Zara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Zara #32 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Zara #64.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1999–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Zara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Anna #19 in 2001, Zara #32 in 2013.
The order changed in 2009: Zara moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #41 and #52; by 2009 that had become #51 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Zara #74.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 2001–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Zara in 16.
Highest recorded here: Anna #48 in 2017, Zara #23 in 2016.
The order changed in 2006: Zara moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #61 and #66; by 2006 that had become #79 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Zara #29.
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 | Zara |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Zara does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Zara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Zara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Zara
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #559 among girls in Norway in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2016 (recorded 2001–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls