Gemma vs Melissa
Gemma and Melissacompared 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 2002, Gemma was ranked #57 and Melissa #69 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Gemma was ranked #79 and Melissa #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Melissa #229 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Melissa #280 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Melissa over time
Gemma and Melissa appear together in 5 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gemma in 1.
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.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Gemma moved ahead of Melissa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #94 and #68 the year before became #79 and #92.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Melissa changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2016, ending at #353 and #229.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Melissa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #173.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #50 and #46 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #1541 and #280.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Melissa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 2017: Melissa moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #273 and #316; by 2017 that had become #324 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Melissa #173.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Melissa #280.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1982–2002
Gemma held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Melissa in 17.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order changed in 2001: Gemma moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #87 and #83; by 2001 that had become #71 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Gemma #57, Melissa #69.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Melissa in 9.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Melissa moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #101 and #129; by 2009 that had become #201 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Melissa #229.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1984–2000
Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melissa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Melissa #4 in 1984.
The order changed in 2000: Gemma moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #94 and #68; by 2000 that had become #79 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Gemma #79, Melissa #92.
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 | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'bee' in Greek. Borne in mythology by a daughter of Procles and used as an epithet for various nymphs and priestesses; appears in Ludovico Ariosto's 1532 poem Orlando Furioso. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; 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
Melissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1962–2000
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1962–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls