Gemma vs Leah
Gemma and Leahcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Leah #36 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Leah #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Gemma was ranked #60 and Leah #66 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Gemma was ranked #80 and Leah #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Leah #184 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Leah over time
Gemma and Leah appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Leah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gemma in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Leah 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 1990, Gemma moved ahead of Leah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #97 and #83 the year before became #93 and #96.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Leah changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1987 and 2008, ending at #60 and #66.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Leah were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #718 and #55.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #35 and #35 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2016 they were #353 and #36.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1966–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Leah in 31.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Leah #9 in 2004.
The order changed in 1995: Leah moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #54 and #66; by 1995 that had become #58 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Leah #55.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Leah #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Leah #184.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Leah #10 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Leah #36.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1987–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Leah in 7.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #29 in 1987, Leah #48 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Leah #66.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1984–2010
Gemma held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Leah in 5.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Leah #53 in 1984.
The order changed in 1990: Gemma moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #97 and #83; by 1990 that had become #93 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gemma #80, Leah #96.
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 | Leah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely derives from a Hebrew word meaning 'weary, grieved'; an alternative theory suggests a connection to Akkadian 'littu' ('cow'). In the Old Testament, Leah was Jacob's first wife. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leah.
- A meaning is recorded for Leah; 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
Leah
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #310 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls