Anne vs Maja
Anne and Majacompared 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 Maja #27 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Maja #155 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Maja #244 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Maja #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Maja #425 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Maja over time
Anne and Maja appear together in 3 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Maja held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Anne in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, and Maja 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 took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Girls, Maja moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2003 as Anne fell out of it to #55, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Maja moved ahead of Anne in Norway · Girls — #47 and #48 the year before became #55 and #28.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Maja were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 61 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #159 and #27.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1960–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Maja in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1960, Maja #16 in 2009.
The order changed in 2003: Maja moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #47 and #48; by 2003 that had become #55 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Maja #27.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maja in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Maja #128 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Maja moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #718 and #951; by 2006 that had become #1004 and #456.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Maja #425.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Maja in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anne #200 in 2003, Maja #54 in 2009.
The order changed in 2024: Maja moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #316 and #495; by 2024 that had become #631 and #243.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Maja #247.
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 | Maja |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #27 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Maja does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Maja both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Maja doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Maja 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
Maja
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #444 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1960–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1960–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #27 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls