Emer vs Gillian
Emer and Gilliancompared 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 2003, Emer was ranked #108 and Gillian #331 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Emer was ranked #364 and Gillian #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Emer was ranked #3961 and Gillian #3961 among girls in England and Wales.
Emer and Gillian over time
Emer and Gillian appear together in 2 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Gillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Emer 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.
Gillian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Emer 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 1995, Emer moved ahead of Gillian in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #74 and #71 the year before became #60 and #111.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emer and Gillian changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2021, ending at #3961 and #3961.
- Longest-running competitions
Emer and Gillian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #364 and #856.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #108 and #107 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #364 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2023
Emer held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Gillian in 27.
Highest recorded here: Emer #43 in 1983, Gillian #27 in 1977.
The order changed in 1995: Emer moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #74 and #71; by 1995 that had become #60 and #111.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emer #364, Gillian #856.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1996–2021
Emer held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gillian in 10.
Highest recorded here: Emer #952 in 1999, Gillian #703 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Emer #3961, Gillian #3961.
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 | Emer | Gillian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emer and Gillian both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Emer
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #108 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #43 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Gillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls