Gemma vs Melanie
Gemma and Melaniecompared 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 1996, Gemma was ranked #60 and Melanie #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Gemma was ranked #97 and Melanie #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Melanie #306 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Melanie #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Melanie over time
Gemma and Melanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 129 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Melanie 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1984, Gemma moved ahead of Melanie in New Zealand · Girls — #38 and #25 the year before became #17 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Melanie changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1984 and 1997, ending at #97 and #82.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Melanie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #718 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Melanie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Melanie #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Melanie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Melanie moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #580 and #663; by 2013 that had become #982 and #593.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Melanie #934.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1984–1997
Gemma held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Melanie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Melanie #32 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Gemma #97, Melanie #82.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1982–1996
Gemma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Melanie in 2.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Melanie #25 in 1983.
The order changed in 1984: Gemma moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #38 and #25; by 1984 that had become #17 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Gemma #60, Melanie #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Melanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order changed in 2016: Melanie moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #327 and #440; by 2016 that had become #353 and #306.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Melanie #306.
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 | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melanie.
- 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
Melanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–1996
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1966–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #482 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls