Annie vs Sheila
Annie and Sheilacompared 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 2011, Annie was ranked #45 and Sheila #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Annie was ranked #51 and Sheila #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #115 and Sheila #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 1996, Annie was ranked #367 and Sheila #657 among girls in Norway.
Annie and Sheila over time
Annie and Sheila appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sheila 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.
Sheila 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Annie moved ahead of Sheila in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #213 and #193 the year before became #187 and #198.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Annie and Sheila changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1964 and 1996, ending at #367 and #657.
- Longest-running competitions
Annie and Sheila were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 52 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #51 and #905.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1964–2022
Annie held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sheila in 29.
Highest recorded here: Annie #46 in 2021, Sheila #37 in 1964.
The order changed in 1994: Annie moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #213 and #193; by 1994 that had become #187 and #198.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Annie #51, Sheila #905.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sheila in 0.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Sheila #1502 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Sheila #4192.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1964–1996
Annie held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sheila in 3.
Highest recorded here: Annie #278 in 1978, Sheila #359 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Annie #367, Sheila #657.
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 | Sheila |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4192 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Sheila does not have one recorded yet.
- Annie and Sheila both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Annie; Sheila 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
Sheila
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #535 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2022
Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls