Anne vs Oonagh
Anne and Oonaghcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Oonagh #312 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #631 and Oonagh #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Oonagh #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Oonagh over time
Anne and Oonagh appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Oonagh 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 2 of those lists, Oonagh in 1. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Oonagh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #631 and #898.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Anne #4 in 1965, Oonagh #171 in 1967.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Oonagh in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Oonagh #171 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #631, Oonagh #898.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Oonagh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Oonagh #1594 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Oonagh #2115.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Oonagh in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Oonagh #181 in 1999.
The order changed in 2006: Oonagh moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #225 and #248; by 2006 that had become #238 and #238.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Oonagh #312.
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 | Oonagh |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Girls #407 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 80/100 |
| 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); Oonagh does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Oonagh both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Oonagh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Oonagh 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
Oonagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #171 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls