Eabha vs Gemma
Eabha 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, Eabha was ranked #61 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Eabha was ranked #413 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Eabha was ranked #1262 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Eabha and Gemma over time
Eabha and Gemma appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Eabha 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 Eabha 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 2008, Eabha moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #147 and #122 the year before became #78 and #101.
- Longest-running competitions
Eabha and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1990 to 2025, ending at #413 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1990–2025
Eabha held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Gemma in 9.
Highest recorded here: Eabha #45 in 2016, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 2019: Eabha moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #436 and #436; by 2019 that had become #296 and #871.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eabha #413, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 2004–2024
Eabha held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Gemma in 13.
Highest recorded here: Eabha #1069 in 2021, Gemma #118 in 2004.
The order changed in 2020: Eabha moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #2458 and #1940; by 2020 that had become #1313 and #2300.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eabha #1262, Gemma #1541.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2001–2016
Eabha held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Gemma in 5.
Highest recorded here: Eabha #59 in 2011, Gemma #60 in 2004.
The order changed in 2008: Eabha moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #147 and #122; by 2008 that had become #78 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Eabha #61, 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 | Eabha | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally treated as the Irish form of the name Eve, carrying the same underlying sense of 'life' or 'living one'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeːwə/ | |
| 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 #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Eabha has a recorded origin (Irish); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Eabha and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Eabha; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Eabha
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2024
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2001–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 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