Namewise

Anne vs Elaine

Anne and Elainecompared 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 1955, Anne was ranked #13 and Elaine #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1958, Anne was ranked #23 and Elaine #94 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2003, Anne was ranked #225 and Elaine #331 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Elaine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Elaine #1133 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Elaine over time

Anne and Elaine appear together in 2 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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 Elaine 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 Elaine changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #544 and #608.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anne and Elaine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #1133.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Elaine #823 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Elaine in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Elaine #6 in 1982.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Elaine #608.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Elaine in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Elaine #823 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Elaine #1133.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Anne

Pairs where Anne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Elaine

Pairs where Elaine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Elaine
FieldAnneElaine
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginHebrew, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɑː.nə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Elaine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Elaine.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anne; Elaine doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Elaine 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Elaine

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #71 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1133 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls