Annie vs Dorothy
Annie and Dorothycompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Annie was ranked #12 and Dorothy #302 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annie was ranked #33 and Dorothy #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #115 and Dorothy #193 among girls in England and Wales.
Annie and Dorothy over time
Annie and Dorothy appear together in 2 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dorothy 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
Annie and Dorothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #33 and #544.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1964–2025
Annie held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Dorothy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Annie #33 in 2025, Dorothy #95 in 1964.
The order changed in 1979: Annie moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #291 and #291; by 1979 that had become #243 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annie #33, Dorothy #544.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Dorothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Dorothy #175 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Dorothy #193.
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 Annie
Pairs where Annie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sinead vs Annie
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #112 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #905 and #51.
Sinead · Annie · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
Annie · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2017 they were #74 and #873.
Annie · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amanda vs Annie
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #112 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #33.
Amanda · Annie · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Annie | Dorothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Anne, itself from the Hebrew root 'hanan' ('grace, favour') via Latin Anna. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | A diminutive of Anne, tracing to the Hebrew root 'hanan' via Latin Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.i/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Annie has a recorded origin (A diminutive of Anne, tracing to the Hebrew root 'hanan' via Latin Anna); Dorothy does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Dorothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Dorothy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Annie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #180 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #214 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Dorothy
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #79 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 recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #75 among girls in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls