Danielle vs Emma
Danielle and Emma compared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2010, Danielle was ranked #75 and Emma #10 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Danielle was ranked #76 and Emma #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #504 and Emma #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #790 and Emma #53 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Danielle was ranked #1454 and Emma #85 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Danielle was ranked #391 and Emma #95 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Danielle and Emma over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Danielle and Emma over time
Danielle and Emma appear together in 5 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Danielle 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.
Danielle reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Emma 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 1975, Emma moved ahead of Danielle in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #42 the year before became #30 and #22.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Danielle and Emma averaged 24.6 places apart, ending at #76 and #12.
- Longest-running competitions
Danielle and Emma were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1454 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Danielle #20 in 1996, Emma #13 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #14 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #85.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 57.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #21 in 1989, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #504, Emma #17.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1969–2002
Danielle held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Emma in 28.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #11 in 1987, Emma #3 in 1988.
The order changed in 1975: Emma moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #32 and #42; by 1975 that had become #30 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Danielle #76, Emma #12.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 30.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #20 in 1996, Emma #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Danielle #1454, Emma #85.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1981–2010
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 29.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #8 in 1993, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Danielle #75, Emma #10.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2023
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 21.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #24 in 1997, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Danielle #391, Emma #95.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Danielle
Pairs where Danielle shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Olivia vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #1454.
Olivia · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Alice
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #25 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #52.
Danielle · Alice · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Eleanor
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #22 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #56.
Danielle · Eleanor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #1454.
Elizabeth · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Emma
Pairs where Emma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Emma vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #816.
Emma · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #585.
Emma · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Courtney
In 1997 they stood at #4 and #12 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2017 they were #22 and #432.
Emma · Courtney · 21 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Heidi
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #342 and #188 in 1945 to #1 and #437 in 2025.
Emma · Heidi · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Poppy
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
Nicola · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mia vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #116 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #21 and #4201.
Mia · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Danielle | Emma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew roots meaning 'God is my judge'. | A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /da.njɛl/ | /ˈɛm.ə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1454 (2025) | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Danielle is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Danielle has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Emma.
- Danielle's recorded meaning differs from Emma's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Danielle
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #344 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 recorded1981–2010
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1993 (recorded 1981–2010).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1454 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Emma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls