Emma vs Maya
Emma and Maya 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 Maya #86 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Maya #19 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #85 and Maya #28 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Maya #40 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #84 and Maya #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #65 and Maya #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Emma was ranked #67 and Maya #72 among girls in New Zealand.
Emma and Maya 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 Maya over time
Emma and Maya appear together in 6 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Maya 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.
Emma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Maya 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 2013, Maya moved ahead of Emma in England and Wales · Girls — #50 and #53 the year before became #55 and #51.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Emma and Maya averaged 58.7 places apart, ending at #85 and #28.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Maya were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #85 and #28.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Maya #68 in 2004.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1961–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Maya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Maya #66 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Maya #86.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Maya in 13.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Maya #15 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Maya moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #50 and #53; by 2013 that had become #55 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #85, Maya #28.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Maya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Maya #17 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Maya #40.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 2001–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Maya in 4.
Highest recorded here: Emma #7 in 2003, Maya #28 in 2021.
The order changed in 2024: Maya moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #53 and #59; by 2024 that had become #64 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #65, Maya #53.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1999–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Maya in 1.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Maya #47 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Maya moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #95 and #110; by 2024 that had become #84 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #84, Maya #47.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2003–2023
Emma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Maya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Maya #68 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emma #67, Maya #72.
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 Maya
Pairs where Maya shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristine vs Maya
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maya rose about as far as Kristine fell — from #140 and #497 in 1961 to #244 and #86 in 2025.
Kristine · Maya · 61 shared years, 1961–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Maya vs Åse
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maya rose about as far as Åse fell — from #497 and #40 in 1961 to #86 and #93 in 2025.
Maya · Åse · 61 shared years, 1961–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Maya vs Tina
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maya rose about as far as Tina fell — from #497 and #227 in 1961 to #86 and #488 in 2025.
Maya · Tina · 61 shared years, 1961–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Isabella vs Maya
Isabella and Maya changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #122 and #86.
Isabella · Maya · 50 shared years, 1966–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
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 | Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Maya does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Maya.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Maya 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
Maya
Popularity journey
First recorded1961
First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls