Emma vs Jennifer
Emma and Jennifercompared 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 2003, Emma was ranked #1 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Emma was ranked #2 and Jennifer #493 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Emma was ranked #7 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Emma was ranked #46 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Jennifer #483 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Jennifer over time
Emma and Jennifer appear together in 6 published lists, across 236 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jennifer 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.
Jennifer 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Emma moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #14 and #13 the year before became #12 and #15.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Jennifer changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2020, ending at #2 and #493.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emma and Jennifer averaged 36.5 places apart, ending at #7 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Jennifer were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 35 years, from 1969 to 2003, ending at #7 and #88.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Jennifer in 22.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jennifer #4 in 1981.
The order changed in 1987: Emma moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #5 and #4; by 1987 that had become #3 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Jennifer #413.
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1946–2020
Emma held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Jennifer in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jennifer #187 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Emma #2, Jennifer #493.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1969–2003
Emma held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jennifer in 10.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1988, Jennifer #7 in 1969.
The order changed in 1979: Emma moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #14 and #13; by 1979 that had become #12 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Emma #7, Jennifer #88.
New Zealand · Girls34 shared years, 1969–2003
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jennifer in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jennifer #15 in 1981.
The order changed in 1974: Emma moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #56 and #31; by 1974 that had become #33 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Emma #1, Jennifer #84.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Jennifer #483.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Emma held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Emma #46, Jennifer #354.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Germanic | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin.
- Emma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- Emma's recorded meaning differs from Jennifer's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls