Anne vs Barbara
Anne and Barbaracompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Anne was ranked #59 and Barbara #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Anne was ranked #83 and Barbara #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #101 and Barbara #543 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anne was ranked #316 and Barbara #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Barbara #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Barbara over time
Anne and Barbara appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barbara in 0.
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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Anne 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, Anne moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #24 and #22 the year before became #28 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Barbara changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Barbara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #101 and #543.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Barbara #848 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Anne held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Barbara in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Barbara #43 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anne #316, Barbara #856.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Barbara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1946, Barbara #167 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #101, Barbara #543.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Barbara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Barbara #848 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Barbara #2000.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Anne held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Barbara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Barbara #16 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Anne #59, Barbara #98.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Anne held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Barbara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Barbara #10 in 1954.
The order changed in 1961: Anne moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #24 and #22; by 1961 that had become #28 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Anne #83, Barbara #100.
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 | Anne | Barbara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Barbara.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Barbara a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls