Barbara vs Emelia

Barbara and Emeliacompared 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, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Emelia #516 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Emelia #625 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Barbara and Emelia over time

Barbara and Emelia appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Emelia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barbara 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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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
Barbara and Emelia changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2005 and 2023, ending at #856 and #625.
Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #316 in 2015, Emelia #357 in 2013.

List by list

England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Emelia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Emelia #164 in 2012.
The order changed in 1997: Emelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #848 and #944; by 1997 that had become #1045 and #536.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Emelia #516.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2005–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Emelia in 11.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #316 in 2015, Emelia #357 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Emelia #625.

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 Barbara

Pairs where Barbara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Anna vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #23 and #856.
Anna · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
Sarah vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #62 and #856.
Sarah · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
Maria vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #856.
Maria · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
Barbara vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #94.
Barbara · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Barbara, Emelia
Field	Barbara	Emelia
Record type	Official statistical record (evidence-only)	Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usage	female	female
Meaning	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Origin	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Pronunciation		Not yet recorded
Syllables	3	3
Common variants / nicknames	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Recorded regional usage	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observation	England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024)	Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	82/100	88/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Barbara and Emelia both have 3 syllables.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.

How each name got here

Barbara

Popularity journey

First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls

Emelia

Popularity journey

First recorded1996
First recorded at #944 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #164 among girls in England and Wales, in 2012 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls