Emily vs Molly
Emily and Mollycompared 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 2024, Emily was ranked #5 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #6 and Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #7 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Emily was ranked #30 and Molly #69 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Molly #104 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Emily was ranked #35 and Molly #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #71 and Molly #217 among girls in Norway.
Emily and Molly over time
Emily and Molly appear together in 6 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Molly in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Molly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Emily in 2. 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Emily and Molly averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #34 and #104.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Molly were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #6 and #20.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emily #1 in 2003, Molly #15 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Molly #104.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Molly in 1.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2013, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #5, Molly #28.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2023
Emily held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #2 in 2013, Molly #31 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emily #30, Molly #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2021
Emily held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 1998, Molly #32 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Emily #35, Molly #100.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Molly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #47 in 2014, Molly #167 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #71, Molly #217.
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 | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (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); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Molly.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Molly 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
Molly
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — 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: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #217 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls