Carla vs Gemma
Carla 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, Carla was ranked #229 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Carla was ranked #325 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Carla was ranked #638 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Carla and Gemma over time
Carla and Gemma appear together in 3 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Carla in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 2 of those lists, and Carla 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carla and Gemma changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2016, ending at #229 and #353.
- Longest-running competitions
Carla and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #325 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Carla #186 in 1997, Gemma #50 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Carla held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Gemma in 46.
Highest recorded here: Carla #117 in 2000, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 2019: Carla moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #436 and #436; by 2019 that had become #421 and #871.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carla #325, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carla held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gemma in 16.
Highest recorded here: Carla #186 in 1997, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Carla moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #679 and #580; by 2013 that had become #561 and #982.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carla #638, Gemma #1541.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Carla held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gemma in 15.
Highest recorded here: Carla #79 in 1997, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2016: Carla moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #439 and #247; by 2016 that had become #229 and #353.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Carla #229, 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 | Carla | 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 | ||
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carla and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Carla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #274 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 recorded1974–1980
Highest recorded position: #74 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1974–1980).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 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