Anne vs Kirsten
Anne and Kirstencompared 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 Kirsten #53 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Kirsten #510 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Kirsten #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Anne was ranked #457 and Kirsten #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Kirsten #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Kirsten over time
Anne and Kirsten appear together in 4 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 Kirsten changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1971 and 2019, ending at #457 and #621.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Kirsten were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 68 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #510.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Kirsten #195 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 68 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Kirsten #20 in 1945.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Kirsten #510.
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1971–2019
Anne held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Kirsten in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #9 in 1971, Kirsten #186 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anne #457, Kirsten #621.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kirsten in 15.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Kirsten #195 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Anne moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #1220 and #1220; by 2014 that had become #1234 and #1882.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Kirsten #5891.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kirsten in 9.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Kirsten #75 in 1998.
The order changed in 2015: Anne moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #419 and #309; by 2015 that had become #358 and #426.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Kirsten #426.
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 | Kirsten |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #510 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Kirsten does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Kirsten both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Kirsten doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Kirsten 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
Kirsten
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 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: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #510 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls