Namewise

Gemma vs Zoe

Gemma and Zoecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2010, Gemma was ranked #80 and Zoe #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2008, Gemma was ranked #60 and Zoe #22 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Zoe #46 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Zoe #49 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Gemma was ranked #4867 and Zoe #104 among girls in England and Wales.

Gemma and Zoe over time

Gemma and Zoe appear together in 5 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Zoe held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Zoe 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Zoe moved into the top 50 at #46 in 1992 as Gemma fell out of it to #87, having been #47 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1992, Zoe moved ahead of Gemma in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #47 and #78 the year before became #87 and #46.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Gemma and Zoe averaged 46.0 places apart, ending at #80 and #15.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Gemma and Zoe were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #104.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Zoe #31 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1997 they stood at #35 and #37 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2016 they were #353 and #49.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1968–2025

    Gemma held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Zoe in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Zoe #26 in 2016.

    The order changed in 1999: Zoe moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #56 and #60; by 1999 that had become #84 and #66.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Zoe #46.

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

    Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Zoe in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Zoe #31 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #4867, Zoe #104.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1985–2010

    Gemma held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Zoe in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Zoe #14 in 2001.

    The order changed in 1992: Zoe moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #47 and #78; by 1992 that had become #87 and #46.

    Most recent shared year, 2010: Gemma #80, Zoe #15.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016

    Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Zoe in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Zoe #32 in 2002.

    The order changed in 1998: Zoe moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #35 and #37; by 1998 that had become #53 and #43.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Zoe #49.

  • New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1988–2008

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

    Highest recorded here: Gemma #48 in 1988, Zoe #21 in 2007.

    The order changed in 1990: Zoe moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #50 and #62; by 1990 that had become #58 and #57.

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Zoe #22.

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 Zoe

Pairs where Zoe 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Gemma, Zoe
FieldGemmaZoe
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedMeans 'life' in Greek.
OriginNot yet recordedAncient Greek
Pronunciation/ˈzoʊi/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #19 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Zoe has a recorded origin (Ancient Greek); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
  • Gemma has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Zoe.
  • A meaning is recorded for Zoe; 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

Zoe

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1968

    First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1981–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1981–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #104 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls