Emma vs Gemma
Emma and Gemmacompared 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 2008, Emma was ranked #7 and Gemma #60 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Emma was ranked #16 and Gemma #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Emma was ranked #25 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Gemma over time
Emma and Gemma appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma 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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1967, Emma moved ahead of Gemma in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #226 and #182 the year before became #179 and #192.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emma and Gemma averaged 55.5 places apart, ending at #7 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #28 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Gemma #50 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Gemma in 3.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 1967: Emma moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #226 and #182; by 1967 that had become #179 and #192.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Gemma #1541.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1984–2010
Emma held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1988, Gemma #47 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Emma #16, Gemma #80.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1982–2008
Emma held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Gemma #17 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Emma #7, Gemma #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Emma held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Emma #25, Gemma #353.
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 | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Gemma
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 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 recorded1982–2008
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls