Claire vs Gemma
Claire 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Claire was ranked #48 and Gemma #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1993, Claire was ranked #85 and Gemma #66 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Claire was ranked #440 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #1021 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Gemma over time
Claire and Gemma appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Claire held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gemma in 2.
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.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Gemma in 1. 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 1991, Gemma moved ahead of Claire in New Zealand · Girls — #51 and #58 the year before became #77 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Gemma changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2016, ending at #440 and #353.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Gemma averaged 22.2 places apart, ending at #48 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #352 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Gemma #50 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Gemma in 5.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Gemma in 19.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 2016: Claire moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #984 and #845; by 2016 that had become #852 and #1057.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #1021, Gemma #1541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1984–2010
Claire held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Gemma in 1.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 1990, Gemma #47 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Claire #48, Gemma #80.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2016
Claire held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Gemma in 8.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2016: Gemma moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #199 and #327; by 2016 that had become #440 and #353.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Claire #440, Gemma #353.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1982–1993
Claire held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Gemma in 9.
Highest recorded here: Claire #30 in 1983, Gemma #17 in 1984.
The order changed in 1991: Gemma moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #51 and #58; by 1991 that had become #77 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Claire #85, Gemma #66.
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 | Claire | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire has a recorded origin (Latin, via French transmission); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Claire and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Gemma a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 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