Amelia vs Catherine
Amelia 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Catherine #260 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Catherine #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Catherine #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Amelia was ranked #41 and Catherine #509 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Amelia was ranked #42 and Catherine #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Amelia was ranked #45 and Catherine #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Amelia and Catherine over time
Amelia and Catherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Catherine in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Amelia 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, Amelia moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #90 and #66 the year before became #75 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Catherine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 37 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #594.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Catherine #260 in 2024.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #68 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #2 and #594.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Catherine in 36.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Catherine #2 in 1964.
The order changed in 2006: Amelia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #91 and #83; by 2006 that had become #74 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Catherine #273.
England and Wales · Girls37 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Catherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Catherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Catherine #22 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Amelia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #84 and #57; by 2008 that had become #61 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Catherine #227.
Scotland · Girls14 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Catherine #260 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Catherine #260.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1986–2001
Amelia held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Catherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #42 in 2001, Catherine #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 1997: Amelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #90 and #66; by 1997 that had become #75 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Amelia #42, Catherine #99.
Norway · Girls11 shared years, 1967–2018
Amelia held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Catherine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #41 in 2018, Catherine #196 in 1972.
The order changed in 1997: Amelia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #511 and #475; by 1997 that had become #414 and #552.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Amelia #41, Catherine #509.
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 | Amelia | Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Catherine a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — 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: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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