Ann vs Katherine
Ann 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1970, Ann was ranked #97 and Katherine #48 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1969, Ann was ranked #92 and Katherine #68 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Ann was ranked #277 and Katherine #168 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Ann was ranked #194 and Katherine #334 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ann was ranked #443 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ann was ranked #1406 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Ann and Katherine over time
Ann and Katherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Ann held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katherine in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ann reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Katherine 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 1968, Katherine moved ahead of Ann in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #61 and #62 the year before became #83 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ann and Katherine changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #443 and #608.
- Longest-running competitions
Ann and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #443 and #608.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ann #539 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ann held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Katherine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ann #4 in 1964, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ann #443, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ann #539 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ann #1406, Katherine #594.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Ann held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ann #18 in 1976, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Ann #194, Katherine #334.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1956–1970
Ann held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Katherine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ann #34 in 1956, Katherine #48 in 1970.
The order changed in 1968: Katherine moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #61 and #62; by 1968 that had become #83 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Ann #97, Katherine #48.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1955–1969
Ann held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Katherine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ann #39 in 1955, Katherine #60 in 1967.
The order changed in 1966: Katherine moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #63 and #91; by 1966 that had become #85 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Ann #92, Katherine #68.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2011
Ann held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ann #229 in 1998, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ann #277, Katherine #168.
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 | Ann | 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 | |
| Syllables | 1 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ann has 1 syllable, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ann
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #82 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 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