Jemima vs Vanessa
Jemima and Vanessacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Jemima was ranked #677 and Vanessa #180 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Jemima was ranked #358 and Vanessa #312 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jemima was ranked #460 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Jemima and Vanessa over time
Jemima and Vanessa appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Jemima held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Vanessa 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.
Vanessa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Jemima 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, Jemima moved ahead of Vanessa in England and Wales · Girls — #228 and #202 the year before became #173 and #263.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jemima held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Vanessa in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jemima #157 in 2008, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Jemima moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #228 and #202; by 1997 that had become #173 and #263.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jemima #460, Vanessa #533.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 3 |
| 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 #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jemima and Vanessa both have 3 syllables.
- 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls