Annie vs Janet
Annie and Janetcompared 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 1999, Annie was ranked #72 and Janet #344 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Annie was ranked #73 and Janet #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #115 and Janet #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Annie was ranked #497 and Janet #652 among girls in Norway.
Annie and Janet over time
Annie and Janet appear together in 3 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Janet in 1.
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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Annie 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 Janet changed places 12 times in Norway · Girls between 1947 and 1991, ending at #497 and #652.
- Longest-running competitions
Annie and Janet were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 39 years, from 1947 to 1991, ending at #497 and #652.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Annie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Janet in 27.
Highest recorded here: Annie #73 in 2018, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order changed in 1992: Annie moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #250 and #237; by 1992 that had become #220 and #338.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Annie #73, Janet #896.
Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1947–1991
Annie held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Janet in 13.
Highest recorded here: Annie #154 in 1954, Janet #239 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Annie #497, Janet #652.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Janet #3318.
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 | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Janet does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie and Janet both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Janet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls