Emily vs Teresa
Emily and Teresacompared 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 2013, Emily was ranked #1 and Teresa #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #6 and Teresa #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #44 and Teresa #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Emily was ranked #63 and Teresa #571 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Emily was ranked #66 and Teresa #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Emily and Teresa over time
Emily and Teresa appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Teresa in 0.
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.
Teresa 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Emily moved ahead of Teresa in New Zealand · Girls — #82 and #67 the year before became #70 and #92.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emily and Teresa changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2016, ending at #63 and #571.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Teresa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #44 and #1362.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Teresa in 23.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order changed in 1988: Emily moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #109 and #103; by 1988 that had become #91 and #112.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Teresa #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #44, Teresa #1362.
Norway · Girls17 shared years, 1969–2016
Emily held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Teresa in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emily #63 in 2016, Teresa #302 in 1973.
The order changed in 1984: Emily moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #525 and #463; by 1984 that had become #342 and #483.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Emily #63, Teresa #571.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1975–1984
Emily held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Teresa in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emily #47 in 1983, Teresa #59 in 1978.
The order changed in 1981: Emily moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #82 and #67; by 1981 that had become #70 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Emily #66, Teresa #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2013
Emily held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2013, Teresa #220 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Emily #1, Teresa #440.
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 | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Teresa does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily and Teresa both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Teresa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Teresa 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls