Anne vs Thelma
Anne and Thelmacompared 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 1991, Anne was ranked #58 and Thelma #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Thelma #168 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Thelma #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Thelma over time
Anne and Thelma appear together in 3 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Thelma 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, and Thelma 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.
List by list
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Thelma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Thelma #134 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Thelma #168.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1964–1991
Anne held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Thelma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Thelma #232 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Anne #58, Thelma #457.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1998–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Thelma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #472 in 2000, Thelma #2320 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Thelma #4192.
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.
- Anne vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Anne · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Elizabeth
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #6 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #76.
Anne · Elizabeth · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #457 and #871.
Anne · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anne vs Margaret
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #3 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #135.
Anne · Margaret · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anne | Thelma |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #168 (2025) |
| 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); Thelma does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Thelma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Thelma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Thelma 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
Thelma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #365 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: #134 among girls in Norway, in 2022 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #168 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls