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.
Side by side
| Field | Anne | Kathleen |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); 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
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 #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kathleen
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls