Abigail vs Emma
Abigail and Emma 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, Abigail was ranked #273 and Emma #1 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Emma #28 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Emma #53 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #55 and Emma #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Abigail was ranked #57 and Emma #67 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Emma #84 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #171 and Emma #85 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Emma 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.
Abigail and Emma over time
Abigail and Emma appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Abigail in 0.
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.
Emma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Abigail 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 2024, Abigail moved ahead of Emma in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #64 and #53 the year before became #48 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Emma changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #171 and #85.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Abigail and Emma averaged 18.5 places apart, ending at #171 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Emma were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #171 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #29 in 2005, Emma #1 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 54.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Emma #28.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1991–2023
Abigail held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Emma in 31.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #30 in 2010, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order changed in 2023: Abigail moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #64 and #55; by 2023 that had become #57 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Abigail #57, Emma #67.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Emma in 17.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Emma #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #171, Emma #85.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1983–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 30.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #273, Emma #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Emma in 27.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Emma #84.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 2002–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Emma in 19.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #24 in 2010, Emma #7 in 2003.
The order changed in 2024: Abigail moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #64 and #53; by 2024 that had become #48 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #55, Emma #65.
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 Abigail
Pairs where Abigail shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #171.
Shannon · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #171.
Danielle · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jade vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #747 and #171.
Jade · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Abigail
In 1997 they stood at #66 and #72 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #48.
Fiona · Abigail · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Emma
Pairs where Emma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Emma vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #1454.
Emma · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #816.
Emma · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #585.
Emma · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Courtney
In 1997 they stood at #4 and #12 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2017 they were #22 and #432.
Emma · Courtney · 21 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Katie vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Katie #1 in 2004, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Katie · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern 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.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · 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 | Abigail | Emma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛm.ə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Emma.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Emma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls