Jemima vs Thea
Jemima and Theacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Jemima was ranked #432 and Thea #49 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jemima was ranked #460 and Thea #66 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Jemima was ranked #677 and Thea #435 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Jemima and Thea over time
Jemima and Thea appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Jemima held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Thea in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jemima reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Thea 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 2013, Thea moved ahead of Jemima in England and Wales · Girls — #196 and #225 the year before became #222 and #121.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Thea rose about as far as Jemima fell — from #228 and #470 in 1996 to #460 and #66 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jemima held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Thea in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jemima #157 in 2008, Thea #46 in 2019.
The order changed in 2013: Thea moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #196 and #225; by 2013 that had become #222 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jemima #460, Thea #66.
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 | Jemima | Thea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Dorothea, Theodora, Theresa and other similar-sounding Greek-rooted names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈteː.a/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #460 (2024) | Norway · Girls #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Thea has a recorded origin (Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission)); Jemima does not have one recorded yet.
- Jemima has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Thea.
- A meaning is recorded for Thea; Jemima doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Jemima
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1984 — 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: #157 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #460 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Thea
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #380 among girls in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1950–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1950–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls