Gemma vs Laura
Gemma and Lauracompared 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 2008, Gemma was ranked #60 and Laura #71 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Gemma was ranked #78 and Laura #74 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Laura #92 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Laura over time
Gemma and Laura appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma in 0.
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 2 of those lists, Laura 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 2008, Gemma moved ahead of Laura in New Zealand · Girls — #78 and #69 the year before became #60 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Gemma and Laura averaged 56.4 places apart, ending at #78 and #74.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Laura were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #112.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 62.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Laura #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Laura #258.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1984–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 24.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Laura #9 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #78, Laura #74.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1982–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Laura in 21.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order changed in 2008: Gemma moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #78 and #69; by 2008 that had become #60 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Laura #71.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Laura #92.
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 | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (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
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma and Laura both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; 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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls