Courtney vs Emily
Courtney and Emilycompared 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 2004, Courtney was ranked #94 and Emily #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Courtney was ranked #432 and Emily #1 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Courtney was ranked #727 and Emily #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Courtney was ranked #96 and Emily #6 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Courtney was ranked #2278 and Emily #44 among girls in England and Wales.
Courtney and Emily over time
Courtney and Emily appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Courtney in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Courtney reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Emily 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 2001, Emily moved ahead of Courtney in Northern Ireland · Girls — #18 and #28 the year before became #31 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Courtney and Emily changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1985 and 2006, ending at #96 and #6.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Courtney and Emily averaged 26.5 places apart, ending at #94 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Emily rose about as far as Courtney fell — from #407 and #91 in 1988 to #727 and #3 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Courtney and Emily were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #44.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Courtney #11 in 1996, Emily #1 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #17 in 1998, Emily #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Courtney #2278, Emily #44.
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1988–2023
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #43 in 1998, Emily #1 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Courtney #727, Emily #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1984–2004
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 21.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #11 in 1996, Emily #1 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Courtney #94, Emily #1.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1985–2006
Courtney held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Emily in 14.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #8 in 1996, Emily #4 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Courtney #96, Emily #6.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Courtney held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Emily in 17.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #12 in 1997, Emily #1 in 2013.
The order changed in 2001: Emily moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #18 and #28; by 2001 that had become #31 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Courtney #432, Emily #1.
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 | Courtney | Emily |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛməli/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
- Courtney has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Emily.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Courtney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Courtney a "medium" Data Confidence level and Emily a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Courtney
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2006
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Emily
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #180 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls