Namewise

Anne vs Lorraine

Anne and Lorrainecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1966, Anne was ranked #28 and Lorraine #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1965, Anne was ranked #42 and Lorraine #89 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 1998, Anne was ranked #229 and Lorraine #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2018, Anne was ranked #336 and Lorraine #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Lorraine #2115 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Lorraine over time

Anne and Lorraine appear together in 4 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lorraine in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

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 Lorraine changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #336 and #896.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anne and Lorraine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #336 and #896.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 19642018

    Anne held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Lorraine in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Lorraine #14 in 1979.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Anne #336, Lorraine #896.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Anne held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Lorraine in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Lorraine #2115.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 19521966

    Anne held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Lorraine in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Lorraine #27 in 1952.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1966: Anne #28, Lorraine #82.

  • New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 19541965

    Anne held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lorraine in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Lorraine #26 in 1954.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1965: Anne #42, Lorraine #89.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Lorraine
FieldAnneLorraine
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginHebrew, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɑː.nə/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Lorraine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Lorraine.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anne; Lorraine 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 Lorraine 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Lorraine

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #27 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2018

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls