Emily vs Loretta
Emily and Lorettacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #7 and Loretta #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Loretta #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1991, Emily was ranked #65 and Loretta #393 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Emily and Loretta over time
Emily and Loretta appear together in 2 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Loretta 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Loretta in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Loretta #876 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Loretta #1302.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1964–1991
Emily held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Loretta in 1.
Highest recorded here: Emily #65 in 1991, Loretta #180 in 1964.
The order changed in 1969: Emily moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #243 and #207; by 1969 that had become #221 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Emily #65, Loretta #393.
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 | Loretta |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Loretta does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily and Loretta both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Loretta doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Loretta 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
Loretta
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 recorded1964–1991
Highest recorded position: #180 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–1991).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1302 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls