Emma vs Mary
Emma and Marycompared 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 Mary #518 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Emma was ranked #4 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Emma was ranked #20 and Mary #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #84 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Emma and Mary over time
Emma and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 224 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Mary in 0.
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.
Mary 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1972, Emma moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #65 and #61 the year before became #64 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emma and Mary averaged 58.5 places apart, ending at #4 and #89.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Mary fell — from #99 and #53 in 1969 to #4 and #89 in 1991.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Mary were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 69 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #1 and #518.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls69 shared years, 1945–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Mary in 31.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order changed in 1983: Emma moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #189 and #174; by 1983 that had become #172 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Mary #518.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Mary in 22.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order changed in 1986: Emma moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #5 and #4; by 1986 that had become #5 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Mary #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mary in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Mary #337.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Mary in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #84, Mary #134.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1969–1991
Emma held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Mary in 3.
Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1988, Mary #53 in 1969.
The order changed in 1972: Emma moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #72 and #62; by 1972 that had become #58 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Emma #4, Mary #89.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1969–2008
Emma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Mary in 3.
Highest recorded here: Emma #12 in 1979, Mary #55 in 1969.
The order changed in 1972: Emma moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #65 and #61; by 1972 that had become #64 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Emma #20, Mary #99.
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 | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Mary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Mary 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 #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls