Anne vs Nelly
Anne and Nellycompared 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 Nelly #194 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Nelly #432 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Nelly #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Nelly #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Anne and Nelly over time
Anne and Nelly appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nelly 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 Nelly 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Nelly rose about as far as Anne fell — from #593 and #1870 in 2001 to #1036 and #432 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Nelly were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 61 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #194.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Nelly in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Nelly #132 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Nelly #194.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nelly in 16.
Highest recorded here: Anne #547 in 2002, Nelly #232 in 2020.
The order changed in 2010: Nelly moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #821 and #916; by 2010 that had become #1040 and #747.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Nelly #432.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2007–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Nelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #241 in 2008, Nelly #474 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Nelly #608.
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 | Nelly |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #194 (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); Nelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Nelly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Nelly 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 Nelly 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
Nelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #206 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: #132 among girls in Norway, in 2019 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #194 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls