Namewise

Gemma vs Louise

Gemma and Louisecompared 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 1994, Gemma was ranked #68 and Louise #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1995, Gemma was ranked #82 and Louise #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Louise #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Louise #952 among girls in England and Wales.

Gemma and Louise over time

Gemma and Louise appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Louise held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gemma in 1.

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.

Louise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Gemma in none. 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New Zealand · Girls, Gemma moved into the top 50 at #17 in 1984 as Louise fell out of it to #52, having been #34 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1991, Gemma moved ahead of Louise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #93 and #75 the year before became #47 and #64.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Gemma and Louise changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1984 and 1995, ending at #82 and #100.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Gemma and Louise were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #213.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #50 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #1541 and #952.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Louise in 59.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Louise #5 in 1980.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Louise #213.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Louise in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Louise #952.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016

    Gemma held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Louise in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Louise #33 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Louise #353.

  • New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1982–1994

    Gemma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Louise in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Louise #28 in 1982.

    The order changed in 1984: Gemma moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #38 and #34; by 1984 that had become #17 and #52.

    Most recent shared year, 1994: Gemma #68, Louise #100.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1984–1995

    Gemma held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Louise in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Louise #44 in 1984.

    The order changed in 1991: Gemma moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #93 and #75; by 1991 that had become #47 and #64.

    Most recent shared year, 1995: Gemma #82, Louise #100.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Gemma

Pairs where Gemma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Louise

Pairs where Louise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Gemma, Louise
FieldGemmaLouise
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'.
OriginNot yet recordedGermanic, via French transmission
Pronunciation/lu.ˈiz/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)Norway · Girls #59 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
  • Gemma and Louise both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Louise; 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1982–2008

    Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Louise

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #59 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls