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Gemma vs Nicola

Gemma and Nicola compared 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 Nicola #91 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1998, Gemma was ranked #94 and Nicola #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Nicola #306 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Gemma was ranked #736 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Gemma was ranked #4867 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.

Gemma and Nicola over time

Republic of Ireland · Girls
#30#100#30019642024Gemma #736Nicola #8981964: Gemma #149, Nicola #1801965: Gemma #161, Nicola #1421966: Gemma #182, Nicola #1391967: Gemma #192, Nicola #1271968: Gemma #164, Nicola #1021969: Gemma #166, Nicola #721970: Gemma #193, Nicola #661971: Gemma #193, Nicola #591972: Gemma #188, Nicola #471973: Gemma #193, Nicola #351974: Gemma #183, Nicola #271975: Gemma #168, Nicola #271976: Gemma #121, Nicola #241977: Gemma #81, Nicola #251978: Gemma #86, Nicola #231979: Gemma #82, Nicola #271980: Gemma #84, Nicola #251981: Gemma #70, Nicola #231982: Gemma #67, Nicola #201983: Gemma #78, Nicola #221984: Gemma #50, Nicola #231985: Gemma #70, Nicola #251986: Gemma #74, Nicola #171987: Gemma #84, Nicola #181988: Gemma #70, Nicola #211989: Gemma #79, Nicola #231990: Gemma #85, Nicola #261991: Gemma #58, Nicola #291992: Gemma #36, Nicola #331993: Gemma #56, Nicola #301994: Gemma #54, Nicola #361995: Gemma #58, Nicola #491996: Gemma #61, Nicola #571997: Gemma #51, Nicola #691998: Gemma #56, Nicola #621999: Gemma #84, Nicola #742000: Gemma #92, Nicola #842001: Gemma #97, Nicola #1092002: Gemma #101, Nicola #1182003: Gemma #108, Nicola #1282004: Gemma #105, Nicola #1452005: Gemma #119, Nicola #1662006: Gemma #146, Nicola #1482007: Gemma #106, Nicola #1182008: Gemma #98, Nicola #1242009: Gemma #128, Nicola #1432010: Gemma #136, Nicola #1842011: Gemma #170, Nicola #1852012: Gemma #151, Nicola #2132013: Gemma #254, Nicola #2072014: Gemma #291, Nicola #2422015: Gemma #316, Nicola #2222016: Gemma #273, Nicola #2882017: Gemma #324, Nicola #3652018: Gemma #436, Nicola #4112019: Gemma #871, Nicola #5512020: Gemma #544, Nicola #6282022: Gemma #502, Nicola #5592024: Gemma #736, Nicola #898

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

England and Wales · Girls
#100#300#1000#300019962025Gemma #4867Nicola #42011996: Gemma #50, Nicola #871997: Gemma #57, Nicola #1011998: Gemma #59, Nicola #1181999: Gemma #72, Nicola #1512000: Gemma #80, Nicola #1732001: Gemma #93, Nicola #1812002: Gemma #102, Nicola #2312003: Gemma #105, Nicola #2692004: Gemma #118, Nicola #3022005: Gemma #158, Nicola #3362006: Gemma #174, Nicola #3192007: Gemma #205, Nicola #2442008: Gemma #254, Nicola #2222009: Gemma #307, Nicola #2482010: Gemma #354, Nicola #2632011: Gemma #480, Nicola #2892012: Gemma #580, Nicola #3022013: Gemma #982, Nicola #3352014: Gemma #963, Nicola #3242015: Gemma #845, Nicola #3522016: Gemma #1057, Nicola #4852017: Gemma #1568, Nicola #7152018: Gemma #1649, Nicola #8432019: Gemma #1940, Nicola #10172020: Gemma #2300, Nicola #11642021: Gemma #1962, Nicola #12592022: Gemma #1685, Nicola #12822023: Gemma #1959, Nicola #26892024: Gemma #1541, Nicola #22532025: Gemma #4867, Nicola #4201

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

Gemma and Nicola over time

Gemma and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gemma 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.

Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 1995, Gemma moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #68 and #65 the year before became #83 and #91.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Gemma and Nicola changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2024, ending at #736 and #898.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 59 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Gemma and Nicola averaged 56.8 places apart, ending at #736 and #898.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Gemma and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #4201.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024

    Gemma held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nicola in 39.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Nicola #17 in 1986.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #736, Nicola #898.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Gemma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Nicola in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2025: Nicola moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1541 and #2253; by 2025 that had become #4867 and #4201.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #4867, Nicola #4201.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016

    Gemma held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Nicola in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Nicola #72 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2016: Nicola moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #247 and #314; by 2016 that had become #353 and #306.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Nicola #306.

  • New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1982–1996

    Gemma held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Nicola in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Nicola #9 in 1984.

    The order changed in 1995: Gemma moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #68 and #65; by 1995 that had become #83 and #91.

    Most recent shared year, 1996: Gemma #60, Nicola #91.

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 Nicola

Pairs where Nicola 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 — close in one country, far apart in another.

All close in one country, far apart in another →

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars →

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Gemma, Nicola
FieldGemmaNicola
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people).
OriginNot yet recordedGreek, feminine form
Pronunciation/ˈnɪk.ə.lə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New ZealandNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025)
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
  • Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
  • A meaning is recorded for Nicola; 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 #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Nicola

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1957

    First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1957–1996

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls