Bethany vs Gemma
Bethany 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, Bethany was ranked #92 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Bethany was ranked #100 and Gemma #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #539 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bethany was ranked #544 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bethany and Gemma over time
Bethany and Gemma appear together in 4 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Bethany 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Bethany moved into the top 50 at #32 in 1998 as Gemma fell out of it to #53, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Bethany moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #53 and #35 the year before became #32 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bethany and Gemma changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1991 and 2025, ending at #544 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Bethany and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #544 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Bethany #32 in 1998, Gemma #35 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Bethany held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Gemma in 26.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #179 in 2003, Gemma #51 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Bethany moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #445 and #445; by 2024 that had become #556 and #736.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bethany #544, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #11 in 1999, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #539, Gemma #1541.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Bethany held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Gemma in 1.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #32 in 1998, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Bethany moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #53 and #35; by 1998 that had become #32 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Bethany #92, Gemma #353.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1994–2004
Bethany held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Gemma in 6.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #73 in 1997, Gemma #61 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Bethany #100, Gemma #99.
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 | Bethany | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bethany has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Gemma.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bethany
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — 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: #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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