Gemma vs Julia
Gemma and Juliacompared 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 2001, Gemma was ranked #71 and Julia #81 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Gemma was ranked #96 and Julia #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Julia #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Julia #137 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Julia over time
Gemma and Julia appear together in 5 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, Julia 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 2006, Julia moved ahead of Gemma in England and Wales · Girls — #158 and #218 the year before became #174 and #156.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Julia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #118.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #17 in 1984, Julia #26 in 1983.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Julia in 33.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Julia #118.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Julia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order changed in 2006: Julia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #158 and #218; by 2006 that had become #174 and #156.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Julia #223.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Julia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Julia #68 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Julia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #99 and #226; by 2006 that had become #145 and #145.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Julia #137.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1982–2001
Gemma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Julia in 3.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Julia #26 in 1983.
The order changed in 2000: Gemma moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #87 and #71; by 2000 that had become #87 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Gemma #71, Julia #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1984–2002
Gemma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Julia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Julia #70 in 2000.
The order changed in 2002: Julia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #70 and #78; by 2002 that had become #96 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Gemma #96, Julia #83.
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 | Julia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma and Julia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; 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
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls