Anne vs Janet
Anne and Janetcompared 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 1991, Anne was ranked #15 and Janet #652 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Anne was ranked #26 and Janet #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1966, Anne was ranked #42 and Janet #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Anne was ranked #291 and Janet #344 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Anne was ranked #336 and Janet #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Janet #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Janet over time
Anne and Janet appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Janet in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Janet 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Janet were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 39 years, from 1947 to 1991, ending at #15 and #652.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Anne held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Anne #336, Janet #896.
Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1947–1991
Anne held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1947, Janet #239 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Anne #15, Janet #652.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Janet #3318.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Anne held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Janet #36 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Anne #26, Janet #82.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Anne held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Janet #19 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Anne #42, Janet #80.
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 | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| 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); Janet does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Janet both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Janet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Janet 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
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls