Amelia vs Jennifer
Amelia and Jennifercompared 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 Jennifer #483 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amelia was ranked #11 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Amelia was ranked #20 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Amelia was ranked #27 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Amelia was ranked #39 and Jennifer #493 among girls in Norway.
Amelia and Jennifer over time
Amelia and Jennifer appear together in 7 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jennifer in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Amelia 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 1997, Amelia moved ahead of Jennifer in England and Wales · Girls — #63 and #54 the year before became #49 and #62.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Jennifer changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1986 and 2003, ending at #27 and #84.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Norway · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Jennifer fell — from #580 and #314 in 1972 to #39 and #493 in 2020.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 37 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #483.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Jennifer #384 in 2024.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #2 and #483.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jennifer in 37.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Jennifer #4 in 1982.
The order changed in 2007: Amelia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #74 and #72; by 2007 that had become #48 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Jennifer #413.
England and Wales · Girls37 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Jennifer in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Amelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #63 and #54; by 1997 that had become #49 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Jennifer #483.
Norway · Girls27 shared years, 1972–2020
Amelia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jennifer in 11.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #39 in 2020, Jennifer #187 in 2000.
The order changed in 2003: Amelia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #265 and #201; by 2003 that had become #194 and #251.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Amelia #39, Jennifer #493.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2022
Amelia held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jennifer in 7.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order changed in 2005: Amelia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #155 and #108; by 2005 that had become #89 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amelia #11, Jennifer #354.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1985–2003
Amelia held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jennifer in 8.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #20 in 2003, Jennifer #19 in 1985.
The order changed in 1995: Amelia moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #64 and #45; by 1995 that had become #56 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Amelia #20, Jennifer #88.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1986–2003
Amelia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Jennifer in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #27 in 2003, Jennifer #24 in 1986.
The order changed in 1998: Amelia moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #75 and #71; by 1998 that had become #72 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Amelia #27, Jennifer #84.
Scotland · Girls14 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Jennifer #384 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Jennifer #384.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin.
- Amelia and Jennifer both have 3 syllables.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Jennifer's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Jennifer 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
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls