Annie vs Stephanie
Annie and Stephaniecompared 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 Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annie was ranked #33 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #87 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annie was ranked #115 and Stephanie #811 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Annie was ranked #284 and Stephanie #527 among girls in Norway.
Annie and Stephanie over time
Annie and Stephanie appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Annie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Stephanie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2005, Annie moved ahead of Stephanie in England and Wales · Girls — #188 and #157 the year before became #163 and #165.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Annie and Stephanie changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2023, ending at #12 and #391.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Annie rose about as far as Stephanie fell — from #112 and #140 in 1964 to #33 and #294 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Annie and Stephanie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 38 years, from 1966 to 2018, ending at #284 and #527.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Annie held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Stephanie in 39.
Highest recorded here: Annie #33 in 2025, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annie #33, Stephanie #294.
Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1966–2018
Annie held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephanie in 16.
Highest recorded here: Annie #263 in 2000, Stephanie #178 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Annie #284, Stephanie #527.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annie held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Stephanie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Annie #108 in 2016, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Annie moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #188 and #157; by 2005 that had become #163 and #165.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annie #115, Stephanie #811.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Annie held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephanie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Annie #12 in 2023, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Annie moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #100 and #100; by 2003 that had become #84 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Annie #12, Stephanie #391.
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 | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Anne, itself from the Hebrew root 'hanan' ('grace, favour') via Latin Anna. | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | A diminutive of Anne, tracing to the Hebrew root 'hanan' via Latin Anna | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.i/ | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #33 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Annie is recorded with a A diminutive of Anne, tracing to the Hebrew root 'hanan' via Latin Anna origin, while Stephanie is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Annie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- Annie's recorded meaning differs from Stephanie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Stephanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2010
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1953–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls