Namewise

Emily vs Rhona

Emily and Rhonacompared 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 Rhona #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Emily was ranked #7 and Rhona #476 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2001, Emily was ranked #22 and Rhona #343 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Emily was ranked #44 and Rhona #5927 among girls in England and Wales.

Emily and Rhona over time

Emily and Rhona appear together in 2 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rhona in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Rhona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Emily and Rhona changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #3 and #856.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Emily and Rhona were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #3 and #856.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2023

    Emily held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Rhona in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Rhona #175 in 1972.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Emily #3, Rhona #856.

  • England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2025

    Emily held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rhona in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Rhona #869 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #44, Rhona #5927.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Emily

Pairs where Emily shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Emily, Rhona
FieldEmilyRhona
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningRival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root).Not yet recorded
OriginLatin, from the Roman family name AemiliaNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛməli/Not yet recorded
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesEm, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, AemiliaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #5927 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Rhona does not have one recorded yet.
  • Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Rhona.
  • A meaning is recorded for Emily; Rhona 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 Rhona 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Rhona

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2023

    Highest recorded position: #175 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2023).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls