Anne vs May
Anne and Maycompared 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 May #481 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and May #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and May #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and May over time
Anne and May appear together in 3 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, May 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 3 of those lists, and May 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 May changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1967 and 2025, ending at #544 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and May were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 80 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #481.
List by list
Norway · Girls80 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 80 of those years, May in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, May #24 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, May #481.
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1967–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 24 of those years, May in 10.
Highest recorded here: Anne #5 in 1967, May #262 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, May #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 4 of those years, May in 25.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, May #325 in 2007.
The order changed in 2001: May moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #472 and #527; by 2001 that had become #593 and #496.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, May #610.
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 | May |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (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); May does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; May doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and May 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
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 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: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls