Alanna vs Gemma
Alanna and Gemmacompared 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 2016, Alanna was ranked #211 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alanna was ranked #294 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alanna was ranked #708 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Alanna and Gemma over time
Alanna and Gemma appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alanna in 1.
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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alanna 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 2013, Alanna moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #187 and #187 the year before became #150 and #327.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alanna and Gemma changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2016, ending at #211 and #353.
- Longest-running competitions
Alanna and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #294 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1973–2025
Alanna held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Gemma in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alanna #66 in 2003, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 2008: Alanna moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #110 and #106; by 2008 that had become #84 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alanna #294, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alanna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Gemma in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alanna #435 in 2005, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Alanna moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #647 and #580; by 2013 that had become #616 and #982.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alanna #708, Gemma #1541.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Alanna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gemma in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alanna #91 in 2007, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2013: Alanna moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #187 and #187; by 2013 that had become #150 and #327.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Alanna #211, Gemma #353.
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 | Alanna | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Alanna has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Gemma.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alanna
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2025
Highest recorded position: #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1973–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Gemma
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 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 recorded1982–2008
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls