Annie vs Elma
Annie and Elmacompared 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, Annie was ranked #115 and Elma #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Annie was ranked #119 and Elma #862 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Annie was ranked #214 and Elma #288 among girls in Norway.
Annie and Elma over time
Annie and Elma appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Elma 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.
Annie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Elma in 1. 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
Annie and Elma changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1981 and 2025, ending at #214 and #288.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Annie #174 in 2021, Elma #224 in 2022.
List by list
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1981–2025
Annie held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Elma in 3.
Highest recorded here: Annie #174 in 2021, Elma #224 in 2022.
The order changed in 2023: Annie moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #332 and #224; by 2023 that had become #228 and #294.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annie #214, Elma #288.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1999–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Elma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Elma #1406 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Elma #1406.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1971–2008
Annie held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Elma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #119 in 2008, Elma #347 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Annie #119, Elma #862.
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 | Annie | Elma |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | Norway · Girls #288 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Elma does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie and Elma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Elma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
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
Elma
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #224 among girls in Norway, in 2022 (recorded 1981–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #288 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls