Anna vs Catherine
Anna 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Anna was ranked #12 and Catherine #509 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Anna was ranked #19 and Catherine #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Catherine #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Catherine #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Anna was ranked #41 and Catherine #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Catherine #260 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Catherine over time
Anna and Catherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 248 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Catherine 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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Anna 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Anna moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1998 as Catherine fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1986, Anna moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #47 and #43 the year before became #35 and #47.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 40 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Catherine averaged 32.5 places apart, ending at #41 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Catherine were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 40 years, from 1954 to 2000, ending at #41 and #90.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #19 and #22 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #19 and #227.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Catherine in 34.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Catherine #2 in 1964.
The order changed in 1998: Anna moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #39 and #34; by 1998 that had become #33 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Catherine #273.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018
Anna held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #6 in 1995, Catherine #196 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Anna #12, Catherine #509.
New Zealand · Girls41 shared years, 1956–2001
Anna held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Catherine in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Catherine #16 in 1963.
The order changed in 1976: Anna moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #23 and #21; by 1976 that had become #17 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Anna #19, Catherine #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls40 shared years, 1954–2000
Anna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Catherine in 32.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Catherine #8 in 1963.
The order changed in 1986: Anna moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #47 and #43; by 1986 that had become #35 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Anna #41, Catherine #90.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Catherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Catherine #22 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Catherine #227.
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 | Anna | Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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