Emma vs Louise
Emma and Louise compared 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 Louise #59 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Emma was ranked #4 and Louise #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Emma was ranked #5 and Louise #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Emma was ranked #22 and Louise #296 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Louise #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #85 and Louise #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Louise over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Emma and Louise over time
Emma and Louise appear together in 6 published lists, across 229 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Louise 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.
Louise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Emma in 1. 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 1975, Emma moved ahead of Louise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #36 the year before became #22 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Louise changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2025, ending at #1 and #59.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emma and Louise averaged 41.2 places apart, ending at #4 and #100.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Louise fell — from #99 and #40 in 1969 to #5 and #100 in 1994.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Louise were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #85 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Louise #44 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls65 shared years, 1946–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Louise in 6.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Louise #59 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Louise #59.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Louise in 17.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Louise #5 in 1980.
The order changed in 1983: Emma moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #8 and #7; by 1983 that had become #7 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Louise #213.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Louise in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #85, Louise #816.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1969–1994
Emma held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Louise in 5.
Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1988, Louise #27 in 1980.
The order changed in 1974: Emma moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #56 and #44; by 1974 that had become #33 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Emma #5, Louise #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1969–1995
Emma held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Louise in 6.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1988, Louise #23 in 1969.
The order changed in 1975: Emma moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #42 and #36; by 1975 that had become #22 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Emma #4, Louise #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Emma held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Louise in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Louise #33 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Emma #22, Louise #296.
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 Louise
Pairs where Louise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Louise vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #44 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #3035.
Louise · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #44 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #2278.
Louise · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Louise
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #816.
Grace · Louise · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Louise
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #816.
Anna · Louise · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Emma | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Germanic | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | /lu.ˈiz/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Louise is recorded with a Germanic, via French transmission origin.
- Emma and Louise both have 2 syllables.
- Emma's recorded meaning differs from Louise'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 #85 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls