Anne vs Cailin
Anne and Cailincompared 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 2010, Anne was ranked #430 and Cailin #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Anne was ranked #651 and Cailin #734 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2020, Anne was ranked #992 and Cailin #5493 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Cailin over time
Anne and Cailin appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cailin in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Cailin 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1977–2017
Anne held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Cailin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #20 in 1977, Cailin #356 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anne #651, Cailin #734.
England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 1996–2020
Anne held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Cailin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Cailin #1372 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Anne #992, Cailin #5493.
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 | Cailin |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5493 (2020) |
| 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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Cailin does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Cailin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Cailin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Cailin 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
Cailin
Popularity journey
First recorded1977
First recorded at #518 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1977 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2018
Highest recorded position: #213 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2018).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2020
Most recently recorded at #5493 among girls in England and Wales, in 2020.
England and Wales · Girls