Amelia vs Zoe
Amelia and Zoecompared 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 2025, Amelia was ranked #2 and Zoe #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Amelia was ranked #2 and Zoe #24 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #3 and Zoe #104 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Zoe #76 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Zoe #46 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Zoe #105 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Zoe #313 among girls in Norway.
Amelia and Zoe over time
Amelia and Zoe appear together in 7 published lists, across 260 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Zoe in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Zoe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Amelia 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 1999, Amelia moved ahead of Zoe in England and Wales · Girls — #48 and #45 the year before became #37 and #48.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Zoe changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2025, ending at #12 and #46.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amelia and Zoe averaged 13.6 places apart, ending at #2 and #19.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Zoe were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 51 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #104.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #32 in 2019, Zoe #211 in 2020.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1968–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Zoe in 32.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Zoe #26 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Zoe #46.
England and Wales · Girls51 shared years, 1996–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Zoe in 3.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Zoe #31 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Amelia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #48 and #45; by 1999 that had become #37 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #3, Zoe #104.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Zoe in 16.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2020, Zoe #8 in 2015.
The order changed in 2005: Amelia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #18 and #17; by 2005 that had become #16 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #2, Zoe #19.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1988–2023
Amelia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Zoe in 16.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2019, Zoe #11 in 2010.
The order changed in 2011: Amelia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #13 and #11; by 2011 that had become #10 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amelia #2, Zoe #24.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Zoe in 12.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Zoe #32 in 2002.
The order changed in 2011: Amelia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #45 and #37; by 2011 that had become #33 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Zoe #105.
Norway · Girls27 shared years, 1994–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Zoe in 1.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Zoe #211 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Zoe #313.
Scotland · Girls27 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Zoe in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Zoe #76 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Zoe #76.
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 | Zoe |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Means 'life' in Greek. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Ancient Greek |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈzoʊi/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Zoe is recorded with a Ancient Greek origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Zoe.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Zoe'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 Zoe 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Zoe
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — 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: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1981–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #104 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls