Hanna vs Lena
Hanna and Lena compared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Hanna was ranked #53 and Lena #294 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hanna was ranked #244 and Lena #207 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Hanna was ranked #302 and Lena #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hanna was ranked #273 and Lena #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Hanna was ranked #352 and Lena #288 among girls in England and Wales.
Hanna and Lena over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Hanna and Lena over time
Hanna and Lena appear together in 4 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Hanna 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hanna and Lena changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #352 and #288.
- Longest-running competitions
Hanna and Lena were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #352 and #288.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Hanna #124 in 2013, Lena #131 in 2012.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Hanna held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Lena in 36.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #22 in 2004, Lena #20 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hanna #53, Lena #294.
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2025
Hanna held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Lena in 32.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #86 in 2013, Lena #71 in 2012.
The order changed in 2025: Lena moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #197 and #232; by 2025 that had become #273 and #266.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hanna #273, Lena #266.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hanna held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Lena in 12.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #141 in 2016, Lena #128 in 2013.
The order changed in 2023: Lena moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #220 and #221; by 2023 that had become #262 and #260.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hanna #352, Lena #288.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2003–2023
Hanna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Lena in 11.
Highest recorded here: Hanna #124 in 2013, Lena #131 in 2012.
The order changed in 2023: Lena moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #162 and #218; by 2023 that had become #302 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hanna #302, Lena #237.
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 Hanna
Pairs where Hanna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Hanna
Anna and Hanna were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #53.
Anna · Hanna · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Hanna
Anne and Hanna were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #53.
Anne · Hanna · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Astrid vs Hanna
Astrid and Hanna were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #9 and #53.
Astrid · Hanna · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elin vs Hanna
Elin and Hanna were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #263 and #53.
Elin · Hanna · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Lena
Pairs where Lena shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Lena
Anna and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #294.
Anna · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Lena
Anne and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #294.
Anne · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Astrid vs Lena
Astrid and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #9 and #294.
Astrid · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elisabeth vs Lena
Elisabeth and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #171 and #294.
Elisabeth · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Hanna | Lena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈleː.na/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #53 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lena has a recorded origin (Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions); Hanna does not have one recorded yet.
- Hanna and Lena both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Hanna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Hanna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #164 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Lena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #346 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1969 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #288 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls