Anne vs Farah
Anne and Farahcompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Anne was ranked #96 and Farah #506 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Farah #209 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Farah #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Farah #708 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Farah over time
Anne and Farah appear together in 3 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Farah 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 3 of those lists, and Farah 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 Farah changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #708.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Farah were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 36 years, from 1963 to 2023, ending at #96 and #506.
List by list
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1963–2023
Anne held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Farah in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1963, Farah #380 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anne #96, Farah #506.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Farah in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Farah #428 in 2001.
The order changed in 2021: Farah moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #992 and #1065; by 2021 that had become #1505 and #779.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Farah #708.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1995–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Farah in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anne #77 in 1995, Farah #353 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Farah #608.
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 | Farah |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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); Farah does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Farah both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Farah doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Farah 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
Farah
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #502 among girls in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2024
Highest recorded position: #195 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2018 (recorded 2008–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls