Emily vs Marcella
Emily and Marcellacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Emily was ranked #3 and Marcella #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Marcella #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Emily and Marcella over time
Emily and Marcella appear together in 2 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marcella 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.
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 1973, Emily moved ahead of Marcella in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #232 and #150 the year before became #184 and #193.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Marcella were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #3 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2023
Emily held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Marcella in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2012, Marcella #138 in 1964.
The order changed in 1973: Emily moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #232 and #150; by 1973 that had become #184 and #193.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emily #3, Marcella #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marcella in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Marcella #1259 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Marcella #2000.
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 | Marcella |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Marcella does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily and Marcella both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Marcella doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Marcella 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
Marcella
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #138 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 recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #138 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls