Emil vs Richard
Emil and Richardcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Emil was ranked #4 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Emil was ranked #468 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Emil was ranked #398 and Richard #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Emil was ranked #737 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Emil was ranked #619 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Emil and Richard over time
Emil and Richard appear together in 3 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Emil in 1.
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.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Emil 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 1986, Emil moved ahead of Richard in Norway · Boys — #150 and #110 the year before became #132 and #134.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emil and Richard changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2023, ending at #4 and #481.
- Mirrored each other
Over 79 shared years in Norway · Boys, Emil rose about as far as Richard fell — from #271 and #219 in 1945 to #4 and #481 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Emil and Richard were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 79 years, from 1945 to 2023, ending at #4 and #481.
List by list
Norway · Boys79 shared years, 1945–2023
Emil held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Richard in 39.
Highest recorded here: Emil #1 in 2008, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1986: Emil moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #150 and #110; by 1986 that had become #132 and #134.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emil #4, Richard #481.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emil held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 29.
Highest recorded here: Emil #506 in 2015, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emil #737, Richard #398.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2006–2025
Emil held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 19.
Highest recorded here: Emil #310 in 2012, Richard #115 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emil #468, Richard #232.
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 | Emil | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman family name Aemilius, itself from Latin 'aemulus' meaning 'rival'. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Latin, widely used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and other European traditions | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeː.mɪl/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emil is recorded with a Latin, widely used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and other European traditions origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Emil and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- Emil's recorded meaning differs from Richard's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Emil
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #271 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 2008 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys