Anne vs Samara
Anne and Samaracompared 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 2023, Anne was ranked #316 and Samara #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Anne was ranked #419 and Samara #364 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Samara #1097 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Samara over time
Anne and Samara appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Samara 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 Samara changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #1097.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Samara in 18.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Samara #590 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Samara #1097.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2023
Anne held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samara in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anne #83 in 1997, Samara #431 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anne #316, Samara #856.
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 | Samara |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #1097 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Samara does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samara.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Samara 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 Samara 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
Samara
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #643 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2014
Highest recorded position: #219 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1998–2014).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1097 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls