Anne vs Deirdre
Anne and Deirdrecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Anne was ranked #457 and Deirdre #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 1999, Anne was ranked #580 and Deirdre #3900 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Deirdre over time
Anne and Deirdre appear together in 1 published list, across 51 years of shared records. Deirdre held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Anne in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Deirdre 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Deirdre changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2019, ending at #457 and #871.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 51 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anne and Deirdre averaged 50.0 places apart, ending at #457 and #871.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Deirdre were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #457 and #871.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Anne #4 in 1965, Deirdre #7 in 1966.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #457 and #871.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2019
Anne held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Deirdre in 28.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Deirdre #7 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anne #457, Deirdre #871.
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 | Deirdre |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #871 (2019) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Deirdre does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Deirdre both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Deirdre doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Deirdre 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
Deirdre
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #14 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 recorded1964–2019
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2019).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2019
Most recently recorded at #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2019.
Republic of Ireland · Girls