Caoimhe vs Gemma
Caoimhe 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #31 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Caoimhe was ranked #39 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Gemma #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Caoimhe and Gemma over time
Caoimhe and Gemma appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gemma in 1.
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 3 of those lists, and Caoimhe 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe moved into the top 50 at #48 in 1993 as Gemma fell out of it to #56, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Caoimhe moved ahead of Gemma in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #61 and #36 the year before became #48 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Caoimhe and Gemma were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #4867.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #30 and #35 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2016 they were #39 and #353.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Gemma in 24.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 1993: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #61 and #36; by 1993 that had become #48 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gemma in 17.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #663 and #580; by 2013 that had become #639 and #982.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Gemma #4867.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Caoimhe #39, 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 | Caoimhe | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːvʲə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Caoimhe has a recorded origin (Irish); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Caoimhe and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caoimhe; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Caoimhe
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls