Emily vs Rachael
Emily and Rachaelcompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Emily was ranked #1 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Emily was ranked #1 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Emily was ranked #1 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Emily was ranked #17 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Rachael #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Emily and Rachael over time
Emily and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rachael in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rachael 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emily moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1981 as Rachael fell out of it to #63, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Emily moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #62 and #50 the year before became #47 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emily and Rachael changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #1 and #747.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emily and Rachael averaged 41.4 places apart, ending at #1 and #100.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emily rose about as far as Rachael fell — from #81 and #54 in 1977 to #1 and #100 in 2001.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Rachael were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #1 and #747.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Emily held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Rachael in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Emily #1, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Rachael #3318.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1977–2001
Emily held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rachael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 1998, Rachael #44 in 1992.
The order changed in 1981: Emily moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #62 and #50; by 1981 that had become #47 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Emily #1, Rachael #100.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1975–1994
Emily held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Rachael in 11.
Highest recorded here: Emily #12 in 1992, Rachael #30 in 1978.
The order changed in 1986: Emily moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #47 and #36; by 1986 that had become #40 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Emily #17, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Emily held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachael in 1.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2015, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Emily moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25; by 1998 that had become #25 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Emily #1, Rachael #432.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (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); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachael.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Rachael 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 Rachael 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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 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 recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls