Anne vs Lilja
Anne and Liljacompared 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 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Lilja #148 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Anne was ranked #422 and Lilja #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Anne was ranked #1416 and Lilja #2888 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Lilja over time
Anne and Lilja appear together in 2 published lists, across 43 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lilja in 0.
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, and Lilja 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 2025, Lilja moved ahead of Anne in Norway · Girls — #150 and #187 the year before became #159 and #148.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Lilja were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 31 years, from 1977 to 2025, ending at #159 and #148.
List by list
Norway · Girls31 shared years, 1977–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Lilja in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #2 in 1977, Lilja #104 in 2013.
The order changed in 2025: Lilja moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #150 and #187; by 2025 that had become #159 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Lilja #148.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2008–2022
Anne held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lilja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #821 in 2009, Lilja #2717 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anne #1416, Lilja #2888.
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 | Lilja |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #148 (2025) |
| 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); Lilja does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Lilja both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Lilja doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Lilja 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
Lilja
Popularity journey
First recorded1977
First recorded at #611 among girls in Norway in 1977 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1977–2025
Highest recorded position: #104 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1977–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls