Emma vs Jane
Emma and Janecompared 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 2013, Emma was ranked #1 and Jane #576 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Emma was ranked #2 and Jane #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Emma was ranked #12 and Jane #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #84 and Jane #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Emma and Jane over time
Emma and Jane appear together in 6 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jane in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Emma 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emma moved into the top 50 at #49 in 1973 as Jane fell out of it to #52, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1973, Emma moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #64 and #42 the year before became #49 and #52.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Jane fell — from #342 and #246 in 1945 to #1 and #576 in 2013.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Jane were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1945 to 2013, ending at #1 and #576.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Jane #316 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Jane in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jane #59 in 1964.
The order changed in 1973: Emma moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #86 and #72; by 1973 that had become #50 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Jane #213.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1945–2013
Emma held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jane in 32.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jane #75 in 1959.
The order changed in 1984: Emma moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #172 and #165; by 1984 that had become #175 and #199.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Emma #1, Jane #576.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Jane #1160.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jane #80 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #84, Jane #288.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1969–1988
Emma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jane in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1988, Jane #36 in 1969.
The order changed in 1974: Emma moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #56 and #40; by 1974 that had become #33 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Emma #2, Jane #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1969–1984
Emma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jane in 4.
Highest recorded here: Emma #9 in 1982, Jane #37 in 1971.
The order changed in 1973: Emma moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #64 and #42; by 1973 that had become #49 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Emma #12, Jane #93.
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 | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Jane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Jane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls