Gemma vs Tara
Gemma and Taracompared 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 1991, Gemma was ranked #74 and Tara #87 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Gemma was ranked #97 and Tara #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Tara #211 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gemma was ranked #1541 and Tara #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Tara over time
Gemma and Tara appear together in 4 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Tara 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.
Tara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gemma in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Tara moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1993 as Gemma fell out of it to #56, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Tara moved ahead of Gemma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #101 and #106 the year before became #201 and #90.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gemma and Tara changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1984 and 2007, ending at #97 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Gemma and Tara averaged 25.9 places apart, ending at #97 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Tara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #718 and #166.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Tara in 54.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1993: Tara moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #36 and #40; by 1993 that had become #56 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gemma held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Tara in 14.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Tara moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #354 and #370; by 2011 that had become #480 and #464.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gemma #1541, Tara #547.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1984–2007
Gemma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Tara in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Tara #20 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Gemma #97, Tara #99.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tara in 16.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order changed in 2009: Tara moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #101 and #106; by 2009 that had become #201 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Tara #211.
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 | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gemma and Tara 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
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #300 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls