Emma vs Frances
Emma and Francescompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Emma was ranked #5 and Frances #88 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Emma was ranked #19 and Frances #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Emma was ranked #22 and Frances #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Frances #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Frances #425 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Frances over time
Emma and Frances appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Frances in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Frances reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Emma 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 1973, Emma moved ahead of Frances in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #86 and #81 the year before became #50 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Frances were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #19 and #856.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Frances #161 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2023
Emma held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Frances in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Frances #38 in 1964.
The order changed in 1973: Emma moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #86 and #81; by 1973 that had become #50 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emma #19, Frances #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Frances #161 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Frances #425.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2017
Emma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1998, Frances #227 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Emma #22, Frances #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 | Emma | Frances |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #425 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Frances does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Frances both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Frances doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Frances
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #38 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #425 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls