Alesha vs Catherine
Alesha and Catherinecompared 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, Alesha was ranked #215 and Catherine #164 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Alesha was ranked #544 and Catherine #165 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alesha was ranked #2411 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Alesha and Catherine over time
Alesha and Catherine appear together in 3 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alesha in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alesha 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alesha held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Catherine in 26.
Highest recorded here: Alesha #139 in 2009, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alesha #2411, Catherine #594.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2004–2020
Alesha held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alesha #177 in 2009, Catherine #64 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alesha #544, Catherine #165.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2006–2017
Alesha held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Catherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alesha #104 in 2009, Catherine #41 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alesha #215, Catherine #164.
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 | Alesha | Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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 #2411 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alesha has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alesha
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #944 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2006–2017
Highest recorded position: #104 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 2006–2017).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Catherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls