Emily vs Nell
Emily and Nellcompared 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 Nell #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #6 and Nell #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #7 and Nell #230 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Nell #400 among girls in England and Wales.
Emily and Nell over time
Emily and Nell appear together in 3 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nell in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Emily reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Nell 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Nell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Nell #263 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Nell #400.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1964–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Nell #114 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Nell #115.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2006–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2013, Nell #253 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #5, Nell #253.
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 | Nell |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #115 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Nell does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Nell.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Nell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Nell 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
Nell
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #257 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #114 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls