Emma vs Esther
Emma and Esthercompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #1 and Esther #183 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Esther #207 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Emma was ranked #46 and Esther #418 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Esther #260 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Emma was ranked #67 and Esther #79 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Esther #145 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Esther over time
Emma and Esther appear together in 4 published lists, across 187 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Esther in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Emma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Esther in 1. 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 1969, Emma moved ahead of Esther in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #161 and #135 the year before became #139 and #149.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Esther changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #1 and #183.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Esther fell — from #245 and #102 in 1964 to #28 and #207 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Esther were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 75 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #1 and #183.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Esther in 19.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Esther #163 in 2013.
The order changed in 1977: Emma moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #422 and #346; by 1977 that had become #240 and #278.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Esther #183.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Esther in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Esther #101 in 1965.
The order changed in 1969: Emma moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #161 and #135; by 1969 that had become #139 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Esther #207.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Esther in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Esther #141 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Esther #145.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2022
Emma held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Esther in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Esther #180 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Emma #46, Esther #418.
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 | Emma | Esther |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #183 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Esther does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Esther both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Esther doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Emma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Esther
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #211 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2013–2023
Highest recorded position: #79 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2013–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #183 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls