Gemma vs Meabh
Gemma and Meabhcompared 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 Meabh #82 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Meabh #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Meabh #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Meabh over time
Gemma and Meabh appear together in 3 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Meabh in 1.
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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Meabh 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Meabh moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #99 and #109 the year before became #145 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Meabh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #718 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1976–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Meabh in 20.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Meabh #76 in 2017.
The order changed in 2008: Meabh moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #106 and #110; by 2008 that had become #98 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Meabh #413.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1999–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Meabh in 4.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #72 in 1999, Meabh #952 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Meabh moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #2300 and #3447; by 2021 that had become #1962 and #1286.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Meabh #952.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Meabh in 12.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Meabh #73 in 2010.
The order changed in 2006: Meabh moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #99 and #109; by 2006 that had become #145 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Meabh #82.
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 | Meabh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmʲeːw/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (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
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Meabh.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Meabh
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls