Anne vs Lilian
Anne and Liliancompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #150 and Lilian #500 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anne was ranked #316 and Lilian #555 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Lilian #531 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Lilian #638 among girls in Scotland.
Anne and Lilian over time
Anne and Lilian appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lilian in 1.
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 2 of those lists, Lilian 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Lilian changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #316 and #555.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Lilian were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #531.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Anne #1 in 1946, Lilian #262 in 1948.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1964–2023
Anne held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Lilian in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Lilian #194 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anne #316, Lilian #555.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1946–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Lilian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1946, Lilian #262 in 1948.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #150, Lilian #500.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lilian in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Lilian #451 in 2007.
The order changed in 2003: Lilian moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #547 and #557; by 2003 that had become #712 and #619.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Lilian #531.
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.
- Anne vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Anne · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Elizabeth
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #6 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #76.
Anne · Elizabeth · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #457 and #871.
Anne · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Margaret
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #3 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #135.
Anne · Margaret · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anne | Lilian |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #531 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Lilian does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Lilian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Lilian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Lilian 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
Lilian
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #334 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #194 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #531 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls