Arabella vs Emily
Arabella and Emilycompared 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 2024, Arabella was ranked #93 and Emily #5 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Arabella was ranked #96 and Emily #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Arabella was ranked #57 and Emily #7 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Arabella was ranked #22 and Emily #44 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Arabella was ranked #88 and Emily #30 among girls in New Zealand.
Arabella and Emily over time
Arabella and Emily appear together in 3 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Arabella in 0.
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.
Emily reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Arabella 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 2024, Arabella moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #43 and #28 the year before became #30 and #34.
- Longest-running competitions
Arabella and Emily were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #22 and #44.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Arabella held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Emily in 28.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #22 in 2025, Emily #1 in 2003.
The order changed in 2024: Arabella moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #43 and #28; by 2024 that had become #30 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #22, Emily #44.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2004–2025
Arabella held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 19.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #96 in 2025, Emily #1 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #96, Emily #6.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2004–2024
Arabella held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 15.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #84 in 2020, Emily #1 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arabella #93, Emily #5.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Arabella
Pairs where Arabella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ada vs Arabella
Ada and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ada · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Arabella
Amelia and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Aria vs Arabella
Aria and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Aria · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Aurora vs Arabella
Aurora and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Aurora · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Emily
Pairs where Emily shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Emily vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #2138.
Emily · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Lauren
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #5 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #1166.
Emily · Lauren · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #816.
Emily · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Arabella | Emily |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛməli/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #22 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Arabella does not have one recorded yet.
- Arabella has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Emily.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Arabella doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arabella a "medium" Data Confidence level and Emily a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Arabella
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #519 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Emily
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #180 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 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls