Anne vs Hannah
Anne and Hannahcompared 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 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Hannah #21 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Hannah #22 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Hannah #66 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Hannah #107 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Hannah #116 among girls in Norway.
Anne and Hannah over time
Anne and Hannah appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Anne in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Hannah 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 took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Girls, Hannah moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2001 as Anne fell out of it to #52, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2001, Hannah moved ahead of Anne in Norway · Girls — #42 and #49 the year before became #52 and #37.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Hannah were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 49 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #159 and #116.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Hannah #6 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Hannah in 36.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Hannah #5 in 2019.
The order changed in 1990: Hannah moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #55 and #93; by 1990 that had become #62 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Hannah #21.
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1976–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Hannah in 25.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1976, Hannah #25 in 2005.
The order changed in 2001: Hannah moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #42 and #49; by 2001 that had become #52 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Hannah #116.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hannah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Hannah #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Hannah #107.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hannah in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Hannah #6 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Hannah #22.
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 | Hannah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | /ˈhænə/ |
| 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 #21 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne is recorded with a Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Hannah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Anne and Hannah both have 2 syllables.
- Anne's recorded meaning differs from Hannah's — see the table above for each.
- 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 Hannah 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
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 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 recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls