Alison vs Gemma
Alison 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Gemma #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Gemma #327 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Gemma over time
Alison and Gemma appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gemma 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 1991, Gemma moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #74 and #93 the year before became #94 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Gemma changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #213 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Gemma #50 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #146 and #149 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Gemma in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gemma in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Gemma #1541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1984–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gemma in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alison #35 in 1984, Gemma #47 in 1991.
The order changed in 1991: Gemma moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #74 and #93; by 1991 that had become #94 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Gemma #90.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gemma in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Gemma #327.
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 | Alison | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (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
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Gemma.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 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