Anne vs Kerry
Anne and Kerrycompared 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 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Kerry #66 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Kerry #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Kerry #358 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Anne was ranked #495 and Kerry #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Kerry #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Kerry over time
Anne and Kerry appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kerry in 1.
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.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kerry 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Kerry moved ahead of Anne in New Zealand · Girls — #67 and #85 the year before became #83 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Kerry changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1976, ending at #80 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Kerry averaged 7.8 places apart, ending at #80 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Kerry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1968 to 2020, ending at #495 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Kerry #136 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1968–2020
Anne held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Kerry in 8.
Highest recorded here: Anne #5 in 1968, Kerry #149 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Anne #495, Kerry #834.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kerry in 12.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Kerry #136 in 1996.
The order changed in 2008: Anne moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #755 and #527; by 2008 that had become #845 and #972.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Kerry #4843.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Anne held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kerry in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Kerry #11 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Kerry #97.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1956–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kerry in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anne #16 in 1956, Kerry #53 in 1960.
The order changed in 1971: Kerry moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #67 and #85; by 1971 that had become #83 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Kerry #66.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kerry in 9.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Kerry #82 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Kerry #358.
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 | Kerry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (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); Kerry does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Kerry both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Kerry 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 Kerry 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
Kerry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 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 recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls