Anne vs Winifred
Anne and Winifredcompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Winifred #388 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Anne was ranked #457 and Winifred #551 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Winifred #541 among girls in Scotland.
Anne and Winifred over time
Anne and Winifred appear together in 2 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Winifred in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 Winifred were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #457 and #551.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Anne #4 in 1965, Winifred #93 in 1964.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2019
Anne held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Winifred in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Winifred #93 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anne #457, Winifred #551.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Winifred in 12.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Winifred #374 in 2022.
The order changed in 2013: Winifred moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #955 and #1150; by 2013 that had become #1220 and #1018.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Winifred #388.
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 | Winifred |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #388 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Winifred does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Winifred.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Winifred doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Winifred 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
Winifred
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 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 recorded1964–2019
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2019).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #388 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls