Anne vs Ellen
Anne and Ellencompared 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 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Ellen #90 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Ellen #208 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Ellen #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Ellen #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Ellen #736 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Ellen over time
Anne and Ellen appear together in 4 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anne in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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, Ellen 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 1992, Ellen moved ahead of Anne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #58 and #64 the year before became #78 and #48.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anne and Ellen averaged 56.8 places apart, ending at #159 and #208.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Ellen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #208.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Ellen #63 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 81 of those years, Ellen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Ellen #15 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Ellen #208.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ellen in 34.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Ellen #23 in 2002.
The order changed in 1992: Ellen moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #58 and #64; by 1992 that had become #78 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Ellen #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ellen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Ellen #63 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Ellen #736.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ellen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Ellen #23 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Ellen #90.
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 | Ellen |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Ellen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Ellen 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
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 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: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls