Namewise

Anne vs Josephine

Anne and Josephinecompared 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 1960, Anne was ranked #24 and Josephine #99 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Josephine #241 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Josephine #256 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Josephine #295 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2009, Anne was ranked #419 and Josephine #419 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Josephine #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Anne and Josephine over time

Anne and Josephine appear together in 3 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Josephine 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.

Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Josephine 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anne and Josephine changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #544 and #483.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anne and Josephine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #256.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Josephine #168 in 1997.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1951–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 63 of those years, Josephine in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1951, Josephine #238 in 2022.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Josephine #241.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Josephine in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Josephine #25 in 1964.

    The order changed in 2024: Josephine moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #316 and #445; by 2024 that had become #631 and #441.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Josephine #483.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Josephine in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Josephine #168 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Josephine #256.

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.

Other comparisons involving Josephine

Pairs where Josephine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Josephine
FieldAnneJosephine
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginHebrew, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɑː.nə/
Syllables24
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)Norway · Girls #241 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Josephine.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anne; Josephine doesn't have one written yet.
  • 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 Josephine 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Josephine

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1951

    First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #256 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls