Emma vs Julie
Emma and Juliecompared 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 Julie #60 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Emma was ranked #3 and Julie #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Emma was ranked #5 and Julie #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1987, Emma was ranked #8 and Julie #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Julie #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #85 and Julie #1639 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Julie over time
Emma and Julie appear together in 6 published lists, across 207 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Julie 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.
Julie 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 1976, Emma moved ahead of Julie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #22 and #18 the year before became #14 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Julie changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #28 and #483.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Julie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #85 and #1639.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Julie #436 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1945–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Julie in 42.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Julie #1 in 2001.
The order changed in 2003: Emma moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #5 and #3; by 2003 that had become #1 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Julie #60.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Julie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Julie #51 in 1977.
The order changed in 1972: Emma moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #131 and #103; by 1972 that had become #86 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Julie #483.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Julie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Julie #436 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #85, Julie #1639.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1969–1987
Emma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Julie in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emma #8 in 1986, Julie #8 in 1969.
The order changed in 1976: Emma moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #22 and #18; by 1976 that had become #14 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Emma #8, Julie #93.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1969–1986
Emma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Julie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1982, Julie #15 in 1969.
The order changed in 1975: Emma moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #33 and #26; by 1975 that had become #22 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Emma #3, Julie #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2008
Emma held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Julie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Julie #112 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Emma #5, Julie #439.
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 | Julie |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #60 (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); Julie does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Julie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Julie 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 #85 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Julie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #305 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1639 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls