Gemma vs Nicola
Gemma and Nicolacompared 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 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Nicola #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Nicola over time
Gemma and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 122 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 2 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls for 59 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #736 and #898.
- 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Nicola in 15.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Nicola #2253.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Gemma | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Nicola
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls