Anne vs Irene
Anne and Irenecompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1957, Anne was ranked #14 and Irene #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1955, Anne was ranked #17 and Irene #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Irene #507 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Irene #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Irene #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Irene over time
Anne and Irene appear together in 3 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Irene 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 3 of those lists, and Irene 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 Irene changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #544 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Irene were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 78 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #507.
List by list
Norway · Girls78 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 78 of those years, Irene in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Irene #34 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Irene #507.
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Irene in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Irene #80 in 1968.
The order changed in 2024: Irene moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #316 and #625; by 2024 that had become #631 and #504.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Irene #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Irene in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Irene #952 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Irene moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #992 and #1238; by 2021 that had become #1505 and #1161.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Irene #952.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Anne
Pairs where Anne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anne vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Anne · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Elizabeth
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #6 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #76.
Anne · Elizabeth · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #457 and #871.
Anne · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Margaret
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #3 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #135.
Anne · Margaret · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anne | Irene |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (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); Irene does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Irene.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Irene doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Irene 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
Irene
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #60 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: #34 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #507 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls