Donna vs Emily
Donna 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #736 and Emily #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Donna was ranked #372 and Emily #20 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Emily #34 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Donna was ranked #79 and Emily #40 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Donna was ranked #90 and Emily #66 among girls in New Zealand.
Donna and Emily over time
Donna and Emily appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Donna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1982, Emily moved ahead of Donna in New Zealand · Girls — #66 and #70 the year before became #78 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Emily were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #736 and #4.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Emily in 27.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Emily #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1991: Emily moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #63 and #93; by 1991 that had become #69 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #736, Emily #4.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Emily #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Emily #34.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1975–1984
Donna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Emily in 3.
Highest recorded here: Donna #31 in 1976, Emily #47 in 1983.
The order changed in 1982: Emily moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #66 and #70; by 1982 that had become #78 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Donna #90, Emily #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 | Donna | 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 | /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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Donna does not have one recorded yet.
- Donna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Emily.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Donna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Donna 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
Donna
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–1982
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1953–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls