Emily vs Gemma
Emily 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, Emily was ranked #1 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #6 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Emily was ranked #8 and Gemma #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Emily was ranked #8 and Gemma #60 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Emily and Gemma over time
Emily and Gemma appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma in 0.
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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Emily moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1993 as Gemma fell out of it to #56, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Emily moved ahead of Gemma in New Zealand · Girls — #36 and #29 the year before became #45 and #48.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emily and Gemma changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #6 and #718.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emily and Gemma averaged 44.6 places apart, ending at #8 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #6 and #718.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #35 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2016 they were #1 and #353.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Gemma in 24.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 1993: Emily moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #51 and #36; by 1993 that had become #43 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Gemma #1541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1984–2010
Emily held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 1998, Gemma #47 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Emily #8, Gemma #80.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1982–2008
Emily held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Gemma in 6.
Highest recorded here: Emily #4 in 2003, Gemma #17 in 1984.
The order changed in 1988: Emily moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #36 and #29; by 1988 that had become #45 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Emily #8, Gemma #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Emily held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2013, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Emily #1, 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 | Emily | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛməli/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Gemma.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Gemma a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
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