Namewise

Gemma vs Rachael

Gemma and Rachaelcompared 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 1994, Gemma was ranked #68 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2001, Gemma was ranked #70 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

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

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Gemma was ranked #502 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Gemma was ranked #4867 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.

Gemma and Rachael over time

Gemma and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Gemma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rachael in 2.

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 3 of those lists, and Rachael 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 Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #94 and #65 the year before became #79 and #94.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Gemma and Rachael changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #3705.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Gemma and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #3705.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022

    Gemma held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Rachael in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Rachael #56 in 1994.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Gemma #502, Rachael #747.

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

    Gemma held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Rachael in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2025: Rachael moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1541 and #3318; by 2025 that had become #4867 and #3705.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #4867, Rachael #3705.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1984–2001

    Gemma held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Rachael in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Rachael #44 in 1992.

    The order changed in 2000: Gemma moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #94 and #65; by 2000 that had become #79 and #94.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Gemma #70, Rachael #100.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2016

    Gemma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rachael in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Rachael #25 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Rachael #353.

  • New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1982–1994

    Gemma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rachael in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Rachael #36 in 1985.

    The order changed in 1992: Gemma moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #74 and #46; by 1992 that had become #54 and #79.

    Most recent shared year, 1994: Gemma #68, Rachael #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 Rachael

Pairs where Rachael 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 — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

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, Rachael
FieldGemmaRachael
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Gemma and Rachael 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

  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

Rachael

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #245 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 recorded1969–1994

    Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls