Anne vs Bridget
Anne and Bridgetcompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Bridget #87 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Bridget #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Anne was ranked #419 and Bridget #282 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Bridget #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Bridget #1007 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Bridget over time
Anne and Bridget appear together in 2 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Bridget 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 2004, Bridget moved ahead of Anne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #200 and #247 the year before became #215 and #140.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Bridget changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #544 and #213.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Bridget were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #544 and #213.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Bridget #444 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #8 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #213.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Bridget in 26.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Bridget #7 in 1967.
The order changed in 2004: Bridget moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #200 and #247; by 2004 that had become #215 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Bridget #213.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Bridget in 25.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Bridget #444 in 1998.
The order changed in 2001: Bridget moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #472 and #478; by 2001 that had become #593 and #532.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Bridget #1007.
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 | Bridget |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | An Anglicized form of the Irish Brighid, with roots in old Celtic 'Brigantī' ('the exalted one'). In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom; the name is also associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint, and with the Scandinavian Birgitta (Saint Birgitta of Sweden). |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Celtic (Irish) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | /ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Bridget is recorded with a Celtic (Irish) origin.
- Anne and Bridget both have 2 syllables.
- Anne's recorded meaning differs from Bridget's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Bridget 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
Bridget
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls