Anne vs Robyn
Anne and Robyncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Robyn #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Robyn #48 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1974, Anne was ranked #69 and Robyn #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Robyn #71 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Robyn #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Robyn #78 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Robyn over time
Anne and Robyn appear together in 5 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Robyn held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Anne in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Robyn in 2. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1973, Anne moved ahead of Robyn in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #75 and #74 the year before became #67 and #98.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Robyn changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1974, ending at #69 and #85.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Robyn averaged 8.1 places apart, ending at #69 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Robyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #544 and #19.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Anne #11 in 1954, Robyn #6 in 1953.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1982–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Robyn in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #22 in 1982, Robyn #19 in 2025.
The order changed in 1997: Robyn moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #68 and #95; by 1997 that had become #83 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Robyn #19.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Robyn #64 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Robyn #78.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974
Anne held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Robyn in 18.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Robyn #6 in 1953.
The order changed in 1973: Anne moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #75 and #74; by 1973 that had become #67 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Anne #69, Robyn #85.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1954–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Robyn #8 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Robyn #71.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Robyn #67 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Robyn #75.
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 | Robyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Germanic, feminine diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | /ˈɹɑb.ɪn/ |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Robyn is recorded with a Germanic, feminine diminutive form origin.
- Anne and Robyn both have 2 syllables.
- Anne's recorded meaning differs from Robyn's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Robyn 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
Robyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls