Jemma vs Melissa
Jemma and Melissacompared 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 2002, Jemma was ranked #73 and Melissa #69 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Jemma was ranked #444 and Melissa #160 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Jemma was ranked #661 and Melissa #316 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jemma was ranked #5927 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Jemma and Melissa over time
Jemma and Melissa appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jemma in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Jemma 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Jemma and Melissa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1965 to 2016, ending at #661 and #316.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jemma #101 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1965–2016
Jemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 45.
Highest recorded here: Jemma #180 in 1988, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Jemma #661, Melissa #316.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Jemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jemma #101 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jemma #5927, Melissa #321.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2011
Jemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jemma #101 in 1997, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Jemma #444, Melissa #160.
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 Melissa
Pairs where Melissa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Melissa vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #321 and #2278.
Melissa · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Melissa vs Louise
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #321 and #816.
Melissa · Louise · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Melissa
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #46 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #321.
Jennifer · Melissa · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Melissa
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #43 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #5 and #328.
Olivia · Melissa · 26 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jemma | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'bee' in Greek. Borne in mythology by a daughter of Procles and used as an epithet for various nymphs and priestesses; appears in Ludovico Ariosto's 1532 poem Orlando Furioso. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 | England and Wales · Girls #5927 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Jemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Jemma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Jemma 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
Jemma
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2005
Highest recorded position: #73 among girls in New Zealand, in 2002 (recorded 1985–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Melissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1962–2000
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1962–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #321 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls