Annabel vs Anya
Annabel and Anyacompared 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 2016, Annabel was ranked #251 and Anya #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annabel was ranked #337 and Anya #315 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Annabel was ranked #351 and Anya #384 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annabel was ranked #544 and Anya #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Annabel and Anya over time
Annabel and Anya appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Annabel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anya in 0.
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.
Annabel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Anya 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Annabel and Anya changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #337 and #315.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Annabel and Anya averaged 41.9 places apart, ending at #337 and #315.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annabel held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Anya in 7.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #104 in 2002, Anya #123 in 2005.
The order changed in 2024: Anya moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #296 and #329; by 2024 that had become #337 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annabel #337, Anya #315.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2025
Annabel held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Anya in 3.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #164 in 2014, Anya #316 in 2023.
The order changed in 2025: Anya moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #631; by 2025 that had become #544 and #443.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annabel #544, Anya #443.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2001–2016
Annabel held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Anya in 2.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #135 in 2013, Anya #267 in 2001.
The order changed in 2008: Annabel moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #332 and #294; by 2008 that had become #311 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Annabel #251, Anya #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 | Annabel | Anya |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Annabel has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Anya.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Annabel
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Anya
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #393 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #123 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls