Amelia vs Elma
Amelia and Elmacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Elma #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Elma #288 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Amelia was ranked #45 and Elma #862 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Amelia and Elma over time
Amelia and Elma appear together in 3 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Elma 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.
Amelia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Elma 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Elma changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1971 and 2008, ending at #45 and #862.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Elma were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 38 years, from 1999 to 2024, ending at #2 and #1406.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls38 shared years, 1999–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Elma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Elma #1406 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Elma #1406.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1989–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Elma in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Elma #224 in 2022.
The order changed in 1999: Amelia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #652 and #566; by 1999 that had become #490 and #504.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Elma #288.
Republic of Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1971–2008
Amelia held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Elma in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #45 in 2008, Elma #347 in 1983.
The order changed in 1995: Amelia moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #457 and #457; by 1995 that had become #283 and #417.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Amelia #45, Elma #862.
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 | Amelia | Elma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #288 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Elma does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Elma.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Elma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Elma a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 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 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Elma
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #224 among girls in Norway, in 2022 (recorded 1981–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #288 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls