Anna vs Gemma
Anna 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, Anna was ranked #4 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Anna was ranked #41 and Gemma #60 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Anna was ranked #82 and Gemma #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Gemma over time
Anna and Gemma appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Anna in 2. 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
Anna and Gemma changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #26 and #718.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Gemma averaged 27.5 places apart, ending at #82 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #26 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Anna #6 in 1982, Gemma #17 in 1984.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #125 and #1541.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Gemma in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Gemma #1541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1984–2010
Anna held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Gemma in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Gemma #47 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Anna #82, Gemma #80.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1982–2008
Anna held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 1982, Gemma #17 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Anna #41, Gemma #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Anna #4, 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 | Anna | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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