Gemma vs Lucy
Gemma and Lucycompared 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 Lucy #14 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Lucy #16 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Lucy #16 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Gemma was ranked #80 and Lucy #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Lucy #123 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Lucy over time
Gemma and Lucy appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Lucy held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, and Lucy 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 Northern Ireland · Girls, Lucy moved into the top 50 at #22 in 1998 as Gemma fell out of it to #53, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Lucy moved ahead of Gemma in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #71 and #76 the year before became #97 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Lucy changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #718 and #16.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Gemma and Lucy averaged 42.3 places apart, ending at #80 and #21.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Lucy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #16.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #35 and #37 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2016 they were #353 and #16.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Lucy in 36.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Lucy #3 in 2016.
The order changed in 1998: Lucy moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #51 and #63; by 1998 that had become #56 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Lucy #16.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lucy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Lucy #7 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Lucy #123.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1985–2010
Gemma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lucy in 20.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Lucy #21 in 2010.
The order changed in 1989: Lucy moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #71 and #76; by 1989 that had become #97 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gemma #80, Lucy #21.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1982–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lucy in 16.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Lucy #13 in 2005.
The order changed in 1990: Lucy moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #50 and #53; by 1990 that had become #58 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Lucy #14.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lucy in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Lucy #4 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Lucy moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #35 and #37; by 1998 that had become #53 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Lucy #16.
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 | Lucy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The English form of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. In use since the Middle Ages. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluː.si/ | |
| 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 #16 (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
- Lucy has a recorded origin (Latin); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma and Lucy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lucy; 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
Lucy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #523 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls