Emma vs Monica
Emma and Monicacompared 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 2017, Emma was ranked #1 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Emma was ranked #5 and Monica #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Emma was ranked #5 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Emma was ranked #6 and Monica #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Emma was ranked #19 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Monica #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Monica over time
Emma and Monica appear together in 3 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Monica in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 Monica in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #131 and #119 the year before became #86 and #132.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Monica changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2017, ending at #1 and #542.
- Mirrored each other
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Monica fell — from #295 and #315 in 1946 to #1 and #542 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Monica were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 63 years, from 1946 to 2017, ending at #1 and #542.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Monica #274 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1946–2017
Emma held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Monica in 39.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Monica #3 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Emma #1, Monica #542.
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Emma held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Monica in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order changed in 1972: Emma moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #131 and #119; by 1972 that had become #86 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Emma #19, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Monica in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Monica #1449.
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 | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Germanic | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| 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) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Monica is recorded with a Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) origin.
- Emma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- Emma's recorded meaning differs from Monica's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Emma a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls