Gemma vs Jordan
Gemma and Jordancompared 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 2005, Gemma was ranked #78 and Jordan #95 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Gemma was ranked #99 and Jordan #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Gemma was ranked #98 and Jordan #750 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Gemma was ranked #145 and Jordan #384 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Jordan #2574 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Jordan over time
Gemma and Jordan appear together in 5 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jordan in 1.
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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jordan 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 2004, Jordan moved ahead of Gemma in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #71 and #84 the year before became #99 and #87.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Jordan changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1991 and 2004, ending at #99 and #87.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Jordan #72 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jordan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Jordan #72 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Jordan #2574.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1989–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jordan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Jordan #103 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #98, Jordan #750.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1990–2005
Gemma held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jordan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #54 in 1992, Jordan #56 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Gemma #78, Jordan #95.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1991–2004
Gemma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jordan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Jordan #58 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Jordan moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #71 and #84; by 2004 that had become #99 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Gemma #99, Jordan #87.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2006
Gemma held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jordan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Jordan #74 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Gemma #145, Jordan #384.
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 | Gemma | Jordan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Jordan River, from Hebrew Yarden ('descend, flow down'). Crusaders brought water from the river to baptize children in Europe after John the Baptist baptized Jesus there. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew (place name origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɔɹ.dən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jordan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma and Jordan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jordan; 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
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
Jordan
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #283 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys