Gemma vs Kelly
Gemma and Kellycompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Gemma was ranked #82 and Kelly #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Gemma was ranked #87 and Kelly #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Gemma was ranked #247 and Kelly #365 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Gemma was ranked #445 and Kelly #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #4867 and Kelly #2006 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Kelly over time
Gemma and Kelly appear together in 5 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kelly in 2.
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.
Kelly 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 1993, Gemma moved ahead of Kelly in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #87 and #83 the year before became #79 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Kelly changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #2006.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Kelly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #2006.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Gemma held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Kelly in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Kelly #35 in 1994.
The order changed in 2023: Kelly moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #502 and #634; by 2023 that had become #445 and #404.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Gemma #445, Kelly #404.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kelly in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Kelly #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Kelly moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1541 and #1672; by 2025 that had become #4867 and #2006.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #4867, Kelly #2006.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1982–1998
Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kelly in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Kelly #3 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Gemma #87, Kelly #89.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2014
Gemma held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kelly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Kelly #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Gemma #247, Kelly #365.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1984–1995
Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Kelly in 8.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Kelly #24 in 1985.
The order changed in 1993: Gemma moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #87 and #83; by 1993 that had become #79 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Gemma #82, Kelly #99.
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 | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gemma and Kelly both have 2 syllables.
- 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 #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls