Gemma vs Phoebe
Gemma and Phoebecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Phoebe #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Phoebe #49 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Gemma was ranked #80 and Phoebe #56 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Gemma was ranked #60 and Phoebe #62 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Gemma and Phoebe over time
Gemma and Phoebe appear together in 5 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Phoebe held the stronger position in more years in 4 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.
Gemma reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Phoebe 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 1997, Phoebe moved ahead of Gemma in England and Wales · Girls — #50 and #65 the year before became #57 and #54.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Phoebe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #718 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #57 in 2002, Phoebe #45 in 2004.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Phoebe in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Phoebe #78 in 2022.
The order changed in 2013: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #151 and #208; by 2013 that had become #254 and #197.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Phoebe #97.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Phoebe in 28.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Phoebe #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 1997: Phoebe moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #50 and #65; by 1997 that had become #57 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Phoebe #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phoebe in 10.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Phoebe #49 in 2016.
The order changed in 2006: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #99 and #169; by 2006 that had become #145 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Phoebe #49.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2010
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phoebe in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #70 in 2001, Phoebe #39 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gemma #80, Phoebe #56.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1996–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Phoebe in 6.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #57 in 2002, Phoebe #45 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Phoebe #62.
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 | Phoebe |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #65 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gemma and Phoebe both have 2 syllables.
- 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
Phoebe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls