Hannah vs Norma
Hannah and Normacompared 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 2001, Hannah was ranked #15 and Norma #606 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Hannah was ranked #94 and Norma #4709 among girls in England and Wales.
Hannah and Norma over time
Hannah and Norma appear together in 2 published lists, across 43 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Norma 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.
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
Hannah and Norma changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2001, ending at #15 and #606.
- Longest-running competitions
Hannah and Norma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1964 to 2001, ending at #15 and #606.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1964–2001
Hannah held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Norma in 11.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #15 in 2001, Norma #154 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Hannah #15, Norma #606.
England and Wales · Girls9 shared years, 1998–2023
Hannah held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Norma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #7 in 1998, Norma #3262 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hannah #94, Norma #4709.
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 | Hannah | Norma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhænə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #21 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4709 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Hannah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Norma does not have one recorded yet.
- Hannah and Norma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Hannah; Norma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Norma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #332 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2001
Highest recorded position: #154 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2001).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4709 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls