Anne vs Cheryl
Anne and Cherylcompared 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 Cheryl #74 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1972, Anne was ranked #75 and Cheryl #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Anne was ranked #651 and Cheryl #873 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Cheryl #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Cheryl over time
Anne and Cheryl appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Cheryl in 0.
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, Cheryl 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 Cheryl in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #22 and #21 the year before became #23 and #30.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Cheryl averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #75 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Cheryl were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1965 to 2017, ending at #651 and #873.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Cheryl #671 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1965–2017
Anne held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Cheryl in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Cheryl #179 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Anne #651, Cheryl #873.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Cheryl in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Cheryl #671 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Cheryl #5891.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1952–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Cheryl in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Cheryl #11 in 1952.
The order changed in 1961: Anne moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #22 and #21; by 1961 that had become #23 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #75, Cheryl #94.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Cheryl in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Cheryl #51 in 1970.
The order changed in 1970: Cheryl moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #42 and #77; by 1970 that had become #67 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Cheryl #74.
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 | Cheryl |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| 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); Cheryl does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Cheryl both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Cheryl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Cheryl 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
Cheryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls