Anne vs Hayley
Anne and Hayleycompared 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 Hayley #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Hayley #223 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Hayley #230 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Hayley #478 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Hayley over time
Anne and Hayley appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Hayley held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anne in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 2003, Hayley moved ahead of Anne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #162 and #218 the year before became #200 and #143.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Hayley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #478.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Hayley #57 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1968–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Hayley in 27.
Highest recorded here: Anne #5 in 1968, Hayley #48 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Hayley moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #162 and #218; by 2003 that had become #200 and #143.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Hayley #148.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hayley in 30.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Hayley #57 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Hayley #478.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hayley in 10.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Hayley #112 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Hayley #223.
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 | Hayley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Hayley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Hayley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Hayley 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 #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #478 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls