Gemma vs Katherine
Gemma and Katherinecompared 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 Katherine #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Gemma was ranked #79 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Katherine #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Gemma and Katherine over time
Gemma and Katherine appear together in 5 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katherine in 2.
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.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gemma 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 2001, Gemma moved ahead of Katherine in New Zealand · Girls — #87 and #85 the year before became #71 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Katherine changed places 9 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1982 and 2001, ending at #71 and #76.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #608.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #50 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #1541 and #594.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Katherine in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Katherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Katherine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Katherine #353.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1982–2001
Gemma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Katherine in 8.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Katherine #32 in 1984.
The order changed in 2001: Gemma moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #87 and #85; by 2001 that had become #71 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Gemma #71, Katherine #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1984–2000
Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Katherine in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Katherine #25 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Gemma #79, Katherine #81.
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 | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- 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
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls