Emily vs Kimberley
Emily and Kimberleycompared 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 Kimberley #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Emily was ranked #2 and Kimberley #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #4 and Kimberley #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Emily was ranked #9 and Kimberley #89 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #44 and Kimberley #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Emily and Kimberley over time
Emily and Kimberley appear together in 5 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kimberley 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.
Kimberley 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Emily moved ahead of Kimberley in New Zealand · Girls — #45 and #44 the year before became #36 and #41.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Kimberley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #44 and #2138.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1981–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Kimberley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Kimberley #221 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #4, Kimberley #736.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kimberley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Kimberley #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #44, Kimberley #2138.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1981–1997
Emily held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kimberley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emily #9 in 1995, Kimberley #27 in 1990.
The order changed in 1989: Emily moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #45 and #44; by 1989 that had become #36 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Emily #9, Kimberley #89.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1982–1996
Emily held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kimberley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #2 in 1995, Kimberley #35 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Emily #2, Kimberley #92.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1999–2016
Emily held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kimberley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2013, Kimberley #245 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Emily #1, Kimberley #440.
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 | Kimberley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #2138 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| 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); Kimberley does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily and Kimberley both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Kimberley 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 Kimberley 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kimberley
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #60 among girls in New Zealand in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1981–1997
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls