Aileen vs Emily
Aileen and Emilycompared 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 2018, Aileen was ranked #434 and Emily #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aileen was ranked #718 and Emily #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aileen was ranked #2411 and Emily #34 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2019, Aileen was ranked #464 and Emily #56 among girls in Norway.
Aileen and Emily over time
Aileen and Emily appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Aileen 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.
Aileen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Emily 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 1988, Emily moved ahead of Aileen in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #104 and #109 the year before became #116 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aileen and Emily changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #718 and #6.
- Longest-running competitions
Aileen and Emily were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #6.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Aileen #398 in 2016, Emily #56 in 2018.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Aileen held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Emily in 39.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #81 in 1983, Emily #1 in 2011.
The order changed in 1988: Emily moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #104 and #109; by 1988 that had become #116 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aileen #718, Emily #6.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #1434 in 1996, Emily #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aileen #2411, Emily #34.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1969–2019
Aileen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Emily in 22.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #398 in 2016, Emily #56 in 2018.
The order changed in 1983: Emily moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #478 and #492; by 1983 that had become #563 and #525.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Aileen #464, Emily #56.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2018
Aileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aileen #221 in 1997, Emily #2 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Aileen #434, Emily #2.
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 | Aileen | Emily |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛməli/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Aileen does not have one recorded yet.
- Aileen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Emily.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Aileen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Aileen a "medium" Data Confidence level and Emily a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aileen
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #81 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Emily
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #180 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls