Anne vs Helena
Anne and Helenacompared 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 Helena #172 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Helena #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Helena #269 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Helena #371 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Helena #790 among girls in Scotland.
Anne and Helena over time
Anne and Helena appear together in 3 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Helena 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Helena changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #159 and #172.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Helena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 80 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #172.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Helena #145 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls80 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 69 of those years, Helena in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Helena #74 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Helena #172.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Helena in 18.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Helena #63 in 1964.
The order changed in 2009: Helena moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #241 and #323; by 2009 that had become #410 and #215.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Helena #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helena in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Helena #145 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Helena #371.
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 | Helena |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (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); Helena does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Helena.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Helena 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 Helena 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
Helena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #326 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #63 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #172 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls