Annie vs Gillian
Annie and Gilliancompared 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, Annie was ranked #48 and Gillian #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Annie was ranked #84 and Gillian #331 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #115 and Gillian #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Annie and Gillian over time
Annie and Gillian appear together in 2 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Gillian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Annie 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2001, Annie moved ahead of Gillian in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #165 and #151 the year before became #136 and #187.
- Longest-running competitions
Annie and Gillian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #48 and #856.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #107 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #48 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2023
Annie held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Gillian in 35.
Highest recorded here: Annie #48 in 2023, Gillian #27 in 1977.
The order changed in 2001: Annie moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #165 and #151; by 2001 that had become #136 and #187.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Annie #48, Gillian #856.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Gillian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Gillian #703 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Gillian #3695.
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 | Gillian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) |
| 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); Gillian does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie and Gillian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Gillian 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
Gillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls