Emma vs Leanne
Emma and Leannecompared 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 1985, Emma was ranked #5 and Leanne #95 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Emma was ranked #8 and Leanne #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Emma was ranked #9 and Leanne #366 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Emma was ranked #15 and Leanne #883 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Leanne #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Leanne over time
Emma and Leanne appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Leanne in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Leanne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 Zealand · Girls, Emma moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1974 as Leanne fell out of it to #52, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Emma moved ahead of Leanne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #22 and #20 the year before became #14 and #29.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Leanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1973 to 2021, ending at #15 and #883.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Leanne #88 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1973–2021
Emma held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Leanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Leanne #26 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Emma #15, Leanne #883.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Leanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Leanne #88 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Leanne #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1969–1986
Emma held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Leanne in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emma #8 in 1986, Leanne #9 in 1969.
The order changed in 1976: Emma moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #22 and #20; by 1976 that had become #14 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Emma #8, Leanne #95.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1969–1985
Emma held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Leanne in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1982, Leanne #27 in 1970.
The order changed in 1974: Emma moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #56 and #35; by 1974 that had become #33 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Emma #5, Leanne #95.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2010
Emma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Leanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Leanne #84 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Emma #9, Leanne #366.
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 | Leanne |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Leanne does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Leanne both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Leanne 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
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls