Namewise

Emma vs Saoirse

Emma and Saoirsecompared 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Saoirse #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Emma was ranked #84 and Saoirse #37 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Emma was ranked #53 and Saoirse #196 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Emma was ranked #85 and Saoirse #402 among girls in England and Wales.

Emma and Saoirse over time

Emma and Saoirse appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Saoirse in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 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, and Saoirse 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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1971–2025

    Emma held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Saoirse in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Saoirse #12 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2025: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #17 and #24; by 2025 that had become #28 and #17.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Saoirse #17.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Emma held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Saoirse in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Saoirse #307 in 2020.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #85, Saoirse #402.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Emma held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Saoirse in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Saoirse #37 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2023: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #46 and #50; by 2023 that had become #95 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #84, Saoirse #37.

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.

Other comparisons involving Saoirse

Pairs where Saoirse shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Emma, Saoirse
FieldEmmaSaoirse
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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.Means 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning.
OriginGermanicIrish
Pronunciation/ˈɛm.ə//ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #1 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Emma is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Saoirse is recorded with a Irish origin.
  • Emma and Saoirse both have 2 syllables.
  • Emma's recorded meaning differs from Saoirse's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Emma

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1969–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Saoirse

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1971

    First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1971–2025

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1971–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #402 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls