Namewise

Emma vs Vibeke

Emma and Vibekecompared 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 2008, Emma was ranked #1 and Vibeke #458 among girls in Norway.

Emma and Vibeke over time

Emma and Vibeke appear together in 1 published list, across 58 years of shared records. Vibeke held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Emma in 0.

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.

Vibeke reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 1989, Emma moved ahead of Vibeke in Norway · Girls — #151 and #130 the year before became #122 and #182.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Vibeke fell — from #342 and #196 in 1945 to #1 and #458 in 2008.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Emma and Vibeke were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 58 years, from 1945 to 2008, ending at #1 and #458.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls58 shared years, 1945–2008

    Emma held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Vibeke in 37.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Vibeke #24 in 1970.

    The order changed in 1989: Emma moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #151 and #130; by 1989 that had become #122 and #182.

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Emma #1, Vibeke #458.

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 Vibeke

Pairs where Vibeke 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 — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

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.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Emma, Vibeke
FieldEmmaVibeke
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
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.Not yet recorded
OriginGermanicNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛm.ə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZNO
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #1 (2025)Norway · Girls #458 (2008)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/10040/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Vibeke does not have one recorded yet.
  • Emma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Vibeke.
  • A meaning is recorded for Emma; Vibeke doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in NO.

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

Vibeke

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #196 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 recorded1945–2008

    Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1970 (recorded 1945–2008).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2008

    Most recently recorded at #458 among girls in Norway, in 2008.

    Norway · Girls