Anne vs Greta
Anne and Gretacompared 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 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Greta #373 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Anne was ranked #430 and Greta #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #631 and Greta #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Greta #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Greta #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Greta over time
Anne and Greta appear together in 3 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Greta in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Greta 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 Greta changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #1302.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Greta were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 67 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #373.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Anne #1 in 1945, Greta #73 in 1946.
List by list
Norway · Girls67 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 67 of those years, Greta in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Greta #73 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Greta #373.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Greta in 18.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Greta #516 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Greta #1302.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1974–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Greta in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1974, Greta #378 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #631, Greta #736.
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 | Greta |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #373 (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); Greta does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Greta both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Greta doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Greta 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
Greta
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #79 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: #73 among girls in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #373 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls