Erin vs Gemma
Erin and Gemma 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Erin was ranked #19 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Erin was ranked #71 and Gemma #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Erin was ranked #72 and Gemma #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2004, Erin was ranked #96 and Gemma #77 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Erin was ranked #78 and Gemma #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Erin and Gemma 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.
Erin and Gemma over time
Erin and Gemma appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Erin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gemma 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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Erin 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 1999, Erin moved ahead of Gemma in England and Wales · Girls — #79 and #59 the year before became #68 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Erin and Gemma averaged 37.6 places apart, ending at #78 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Erin and Gemma were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #72 and #4867.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Erin #36 in 1984, Gemma #17 in 1984.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #25 and #35 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2016 they were #19 and #353.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1975–2025
Erin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Gemma in 23.
Highest recorded here: Erin #34 in 2006, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 1999: Erin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #65 and #56; by 1999 that had become #79 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #71, Gemma #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Erin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Gemma in 3.
Highest recorded here: Erin #27 in 2007, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Erin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #79 and #59; by 1999 that had become #68 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #72, Gemma #4867.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1984–2007
Erin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Erin #11 in 1984, Gemma #47 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Erin #78, Gemma #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Erin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gemma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Erin #5 in 2009, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Erin #19, Gemma #353.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1982–2004
Erin held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Gemma in 14.
Highest recorded here: Erin #36 in 1984, Gemma #17 in 1984.
The order changed in 1983: Gemma moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #45 and #64; by 1983 that had become #40 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Erin #96, Gemma #77.
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 | Erin | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland itself. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛɹ.ɪn/ | |
| 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, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #71 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Erin has a recorded origin (Irish); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Erin and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Erin; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Erin
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #89 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #72 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Gemma
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1982–2008
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls