Namewise

Hannah vs Rebecca

Hannah and Rebeccacompared 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.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2008, Hannah was ranked #18 and Rebecca #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Rebecca #141 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2011, Hannah was ranked #23 and Rebecca #85 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Hannah was ranked #57 and Rebecca #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Hannah was ranked #66 and Rebecca #431 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Hannah was ranked #105 and Rebecca #413 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Hannah was ranked #116 and Rebecca #485 among girls in Norway.

Hannah and Rebecca over time

Hannah and Rebecca appear together in 6 published lists, across 228 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rebecca in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Rebecca reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Hannah 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 1997, Hannah moved ahead of Rebecca in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #9 the year before became #8 and #9.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Hannah and Rebecca changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #21 and #141.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hannah and Rebecca averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #18 and #94.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 48 shared years in Norway · Girls, Hannah rose about as far as Rebecca fell — from #501 and #235 in 1976 to #116 and #485 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Hannah and Rebecca were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #105 and #413.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hannah #6 in 1996, Rebecca #8 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #6 and #8 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #105 and #413.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Hannah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rebecca in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Rebecca #7 in 1995.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Rebecca #141.

  • Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1976–2025

    Hannah held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rebecca in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #25 in 2005, Rebecca #55 in 1996.

    The order changed in 1999: Hannah moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #73 and #69; by 1999 that had become #56 and #78.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #116, Rebecca #485.

  • New Zealand · Girls34 shared years, 1978–2011

    Hannah held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Rebecca in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #2 in 1996, Rebecca #2 in 1978.

    The order changed in 1992: Hannah moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #7 and #6; by 1992 that had become #3 and #6.

    Most recent shared year, 2011: Hannah #23, Rebecca #85.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Hannah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rebecca in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Rebecca #8 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #105, Rebecca #413.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Hannah held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Rebecca in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1998, Rebecca #2 in 1999.

    The order changed in 2001: Hannah moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #10 and #5; by 2001 that had become #6 and #8.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #57, Rebecca #337.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1983–2008

    Hannah held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rebecca in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #8 in 1997, Rebecca #1 in 1983.

    The order changed in 1997: Hannah moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #12 and #9; by 1997 that had become #8 and #9.

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Hannah #18, Rebecca #94.

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 Hannah

Pairs where Hannah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Rebecca

Pairs where Rebecca shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Hannah, Rebecca
FieldHannahRebecca
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness.Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together.
OriginBiblical HebrewBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka
Pronunciation/ˈhænə//rəˈbɛkə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #21 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Hannah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Rebecca is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka origin.
  • Hannah has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Rebecca.
  • Hannah's recorded meaning differs from Rebecca's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Hannah

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1978–2023

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #105 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Rebecca

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1955

    First recorded at #440 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1966–2008

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1966–2008).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls