Anne vs Lillian
Anne and Lilliancompared 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 Lillian #295 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Lillian #309 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Lillian #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Lillian #476 among girls in Scotland.
Anne and Lillian over time
Anne and Lillian appear together in 3 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lillian 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 2 of those lists, and Lillian 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 Lillian changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #544 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Lillian were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #295.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Anne #1 in 1945, Lillian #40 in 1945.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 81 of those years, Lillian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Lillian #40 in 1945.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Lillian #295.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Lillian in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Lillian #236 in 2016.
The order changed in 2024: Lillian moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #316 and #364; by 2024 that had become #631 and #243.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Lillian #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lillian in 25.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Lillian #274 in 2017.
The order changed in 2001: Lillian moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #472 and #535; by 2001 that had become #593 and #514.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Lillian #309.
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 | Lillian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #295 (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); Lillian does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Lillian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Lillian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Lillian 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
Lillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #40 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: #40 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #295 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls