Annie vs Olwen
Annie and Olwencompared 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 2017, Annie was ranked #74 and Olwen #873 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Annie was ranked #111 and Olwen #2278 among girls in England and Wales.
Annie and Olwen over time
Annie and Olwen appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Olwen in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1998–2025
Annie held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Olwen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Olwen #1774 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annie #111, Olwen #2278.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1966–2017
Annie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Olwen in 1.
Highest recorded here: Annie #74 in 2017, Olwen #327 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Annie #74, Olwen #873.
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 | Olwen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| 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); Olwen does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie and Olwen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Olwen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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 #111 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Olwen
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2017
Highest recorded position: #327 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1966–2017).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls