Annie vs Iona
Annie and Ionacompared 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 Iona #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annie was ranked #33 and Iona #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #87 and Iona #83 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #115 and Iona #451 among girls in England and Wales.
Annie and Iona over time
Annie and Iona appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Iona in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Iona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Iona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Iona #199 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Iona #451.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Annie held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Iona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #8 in 2022, Iona #168 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Annie #12, Iona #237.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1988–2025
Annie held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Iona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #33 in 2025, Iona #314 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annie #33, Iona #544.
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 | Iona |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| 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 | 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); Iona does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie and Iona both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Iona doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Iona
Popularity journey
First recorded1988
First recorded at #492 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls