Dearbhla vs Gemma
Dearbhla 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, Dearbhla was ranked #306 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Dearbhla was ranked #483 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2014, Dearbhla was ranked #5691 and Gemma #963 among girls in England and Wales.
Dearbhla and Gemma over time
Dearbhla and Gemma appear together in 2 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dearbhla in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Dearbhla 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 2011, Dearbhla moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #324 and #237 the year before became #168 and #207.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dearbhla and Gemma changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #483 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Dearbhla and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #483 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1969–2025
Dearbhla held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gemma in 51.
Highest recorded here: Dearbhla #126 in 1999, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 2025: Dearbhla moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #898 and #736; by 2025 that had become #483 and #718.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dearbhla #483, Gemma #718.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Dearbhla held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Gemma in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dearbhla #90 in 2001, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Dearbhla moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #324 and #237; by 2011 that had become #168 and #207.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Dearbhla #306, 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 | Dearbhla | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #483 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dearbhla and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Dearbhla
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #322 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — 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: #90 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 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