Emilie vs Lena
Emilie and Lenacompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Emilie was ranked #16 and Lena #294 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emilie was ranked #176 and Lena #207 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emilie was ranked #608 and Lena #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emilie was ranked #596 and Lena #288 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emilie was ranked #288 and Lena #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Emilie and Lena over time
Emilie and Lena appear together in 4 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Lena held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Emilie in 1.
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.
Lena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Emilie in 1. 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 1991, Emilie moved ahead of Lena in Norway · Girls — #69 and #61 the year before became #50 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emilie and Lena changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2005 and 2024, ending at #288 and #288.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Lena rose about as far as Emilie fell — from #354 and #823 in 1996 to #596 and #288 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Emilie and Lena were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #596 and #288.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emilie #232 in 2013, Lena #128 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1958–2025
Emilie held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Lena in 14.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #1 in 1999, Lena #29 in 1980.
The order changed in 1991: Emilie moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #69 and #61; by 1991 that had become #50 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emilie #16, Lena #294.
Republic of Ireland · Girls38 shared years, 1982–2025
Emilie held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Lena in 35.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #236 in 2010, Lena #71 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emilie #608, Lena #266.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emilie held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lena in 18.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #232 in 2013, Lena #128 in 2013.
The order changed in 2008: Lena moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #332 and #544; by 2008 that had become #355 and #341.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emilie #596, Lena #288.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2005–2024
Emilie held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lena in 11.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #136 in 2015, Lena #131 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emilie #288, Lena #288.
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 | Emilie | Lena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The German, Scandinavian and Czech feminine form of Aemilius (see Emily). | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. |
| Origin | Latin, via German/Scandinavian transmission | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeh.mee.lee.eh/ | /ˈleː.na/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Emilia, Emelie, Mille, Milly | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #16 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Emilie is recorded with a Latin, via German/Scandinavian transmission origin, while Lena is recorded with a Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions origin.
- Emilie has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lena.
- Emilie's recorded meaning differs from Lena's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Emilie a "high" Data Confidence level and Lena a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Emilie
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #383 among girls in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1999 (recorded 1958–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #596 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Lena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #346 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1969 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #288 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls