Alison vs Katherine
Alison and Katherinecompared 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 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Katherine #41 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Katherine #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Katherine #167 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Katherine over time
Alison and Katherine appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Alison held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katherine in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Katherine in 1. 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 1984, Katherine moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #30 the year before became #35 and #28.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Katherine averaged 19.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Katherine were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 41 years, from 1956 to 1996, ending at #97 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Katherine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order changed in 1968: Alison moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #88 and #83; by 1968 that had become #83 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Katherine #608.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls41 shared years, 1956–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Katherine in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Katherine #24 in 1982.
The order changed in 1984: Katherine moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #27 and #30; by 1984 that had become #35 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Katherine #71.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Katherine #594.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1955–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Katherine in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Katherine #36 in 1978.
The order changed in 1972: Katherine moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #67 and #80; by 1972 that had become #68 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Katherine #41.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Katherine #167.
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 | Alison | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls