Emma vs Nora
Emma and Nora 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 Nora #3 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Nora #76 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #84 and Nora #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #65 and Nora #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Nora #72 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emma was ranked #85 and Nora #75 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Nora 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 Nora over time
Emma and Nora appear together in 4 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nora in 1.
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 3 of those lists, Nora 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 2025, Nora moved ahead of Emma in England and Wales · Girls — #69 and #86 the year before became #85 and #75.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emma and Nora changed places 17 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #1 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 75 shared years in Norway · Girls, Emma and Nora averaged 53.4 places apart, ending at #1 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Nora were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #85 and #75.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Nora in 44.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Nora #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Nora #3.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Nora in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Nora #22 in 1965.
The order changed in 1973: Emma moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #86 and #66; by 1973 that had become #50 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Nora #76.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Nora in 1.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Nora #75 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Nora moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #69 and #86; by 2025 that had become #85 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #85, Nora #75.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nora in 2.
Highest recorded here: Emma #4 in 1997, Nora #44 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Nora moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #46 and #98; by 2023 that had become #95 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #84, Nora #44.
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 Nora
Pairs where Nora shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nora vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #885.
Nora · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Nora
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #95.
Susan · Nora · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Sharon
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #39 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2020 they were #126 and #834.
Nora · Sharon · 55 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Carmel
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #21 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #199 and #896.
Nora · Carmel · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · 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 | Nora |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | A short form of the names Honora (linked to Latin 'honor') or Eleanor — not an independently rooted name; Behind the Name does not specify which is the 'true' source for any given historical bearer. |
| Origin | Germanic | English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | /ˈnɔrə/ |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #3 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Nora is recorded with a English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor origin.
- Emma and Nora both have 2 syllables.
- Emma's recorded meaning differs from Nora's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Nora
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls