Namewise

Anne vs Pauline

Anne and Paulinecompared 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 Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1971, Anne was ranked #83 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2023, Anne was ranked #96 and Pauline #395 among girls in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

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

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Pauline over time

Anne and Pauline appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Pauline in 0.

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

Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Pauline 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 Pauline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 46 years, from 1946 to 2023, ending at #96 and #395.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #5 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls46 shared years, 1946–2023

    Anne held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1946, Pauline #242 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Anne #96, Pauline #395.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018

    Anne held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Pauline #12 in 1964.

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

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

  • England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Pauline #4201.

  • New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1954–1971

    Anne held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Pauline #31 in 1955.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1971: Anne #83, Pauline #86.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966

    Anne held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Pauline #52 in 1954.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1966: Anne #28, Pauline #86.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Anne

Pairs where Anne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Pauline

Pairs where Pauline shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Pauline
FieldAnnePauline
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/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Pauline does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Pauline.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anne; Pauline doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Pauline 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 #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Pauline

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2018

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls