Frances vs Gemma
Frances and Gemmacompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Frances was ranked #88 and Gemma #21 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Frances was ranked #440 and Gemma #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Frances was ranked #425 and Gemma #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Frances was ranked #856 and Gemma #445 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Frances and Gemma over time
Frances and Gemma appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Frances 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Frances and Gemma were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #856 and #445.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Frances #161 in 1996, Gemma #50 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2023
Frances held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Gemma in 36.
Highest recorded here: Frances #38 in 1964, Gemma #36 in 1992.
The order changed in 2023: Gemma moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #661 and #883; by 2023 that had become #856 and #445.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Frances #856, Gemma #445.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Frances held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gemma in 16.
Highest recorded here: Frances #161 in 1996, Gemma #50 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Frances moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #552 and #480; by 2012 that had become #493 and #580.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Frances #425, Gemma #1541.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2016
Frances held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gemma in 10.
Highest recorded here: Frances #227 in 1999, Gemma #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Frances #440, Gemma #353.
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 | Frances | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #425 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Frances and Gemma both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Frances
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #38 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #425 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls