Namewise

Anne vs Kathleen

Anne and Kathleencompared 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 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Kathleen #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1971, Anne was ranked #83 and Kathleen #99 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Kathleen #312 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Kathleen over time

Anne and Kathleen appear together in 5 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anne in 2.

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.

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

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1976, Kathleen moved ahead of Anne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #68 and #74 the year before became #80 and #71.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anne and Kathleen changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1976, ending at #80 and #71.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Kathleen averaged 15.6 places apart, ending at #80 and #71.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anne and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #997.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

List by list

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

    Anne held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kathleen in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Kathleen #18 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1997: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #68 and #90; by 1997 that had become #83 and #74.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Kathleen #352.

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

    Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Kathleen #997.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976

    Anne held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kathleen in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Kathleen #29 in 1952.

    The order changed in 1976: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #68 and #74; by 1976 that had become #80 and #71.

    Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Kathleen #71.

  • New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971

    Anne held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kathleen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Kathleen #31 in 1954.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1971: Anne #83, Kathleen #99.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015

    Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Kathleen #129 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Kathleen #312.

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 Kathleen

Pairs where Kathleen 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 — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

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, Kathleen
FieldAnneKathleen
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/
Syllables22
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, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anne and Kathleen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anne; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Kathleen 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

Kathleen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls