Clodagh vs Gemma
Clodagh 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, Clodagh was ranked #47 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Clodagh was ranked #51 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Clodagh was ranked #1036 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Clodagh and Gemma over time
Clodagh and Gemma appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Clodagh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gemma in 1.
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 3 of those lists, and Clodagh 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Clodagh moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #72 and #64 the year before became #57 and #78.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Clodagh and Gemma changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #47 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Clodagh and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #47 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Clodagh #897 in 1997, Gemma #50 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #149 and #149 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #47 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Clodagh held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Gemma in 19.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #34 in 2009, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 1995: Clodagh moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #61 and #54; by 1995 that had become #47 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Clodagh #47, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Clodagh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gemma in 22.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #897 in 1997, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Clodagh moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #1681 and #1568; by 2018 that had become #1170 and #1649.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Clodagh #1036, Gemma #1541.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Clodagh held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Gemma in 3.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #44 in 2010, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Clodagh moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #72 and #64; by 2000 that had become #57 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Clodagh #51, 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 | Clodagh | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A place-derived name, taken from the River Clodiagh in County Waterford, rather than from a traditional Irish word root. Popularised as a personal name by Clodagh Beresford (1879-1957), daughter of the Marquess of Waterford. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkloʊdə/ | |
| 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 #47 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 74/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Clodagh has a recorded origin (Irish); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Clodagh and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Clodagh; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Clodagh
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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 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