Namewise

Anne vs Kayley

Anne and Kayleycompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2006, Anne was ranked #238 and Kayley #219 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Kayley #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Kayley #5927 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Kayley over time

Anne and Kayley appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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 1 of those lists, and Kayley 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 Kayley changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1995 and 2025, ending at #544 and #885.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Kayley #293 in 1996.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kayley in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Kayley #293 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2011: Anne moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #1040 and #910; by 2011 that had become #1117 and #1438.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Kayley #5927.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1995–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kayley in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #68 in 1996, Kayley #320 in 2005.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Kayley #885.

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.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Kayley
FieldAnneKayley
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/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

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

Kayley

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1995

    First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1998–2023

    Highest recorded position: #219 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1998–2023).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls