Emma vs Josephine
Emma and Josephinecompared 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 Josephine #241 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Emma was ranked #5 and Josephine #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Emma was ranked #22 and Josephine #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2016, Emma was ranked #27 and Josephine #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Josephine #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Josephine #295 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #85 and Josephine #256 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Josephine over time
Emma and Josephine appear together in 4 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Josephine 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 Josephine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #86 and #74 the year before became #50 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Josephine changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2025, ending at #1 and #241.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Josephine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #85 and #256.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Josephine #168 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Josephine in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Josephine #25 in 1964.
The order changed in 1973: Emma moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #86 and #74; by 1973 that had become #50 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Josephine #483.
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1951–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Josephine in 2.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Josephine #238 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Josephine #241.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Josephine #168 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #85, Josephine #256.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2017
Emma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1998, Josephine #229 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Emma #22, Josephine #355.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Emma
Pairs where Emma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Emma vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #1454.
Emma · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #816.
Emma · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #585.
Emma · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Courtney
In 1997 they stood at #4 and #12 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2017 they were #22 and #432.
Emma · Courtney · 21 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Josephine
Pairs where Josephine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #483.
Anna · Josephine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Carmel vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #21 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #896 and #462.
Carmel · Josephine · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #445.
Susan · Josephine · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #483.
Maria · Josephine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Emma | Josephine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Josephine.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Josephine doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 #85 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #256 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls