Namewise

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 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Catherine #590 among girls in England and Wales.

Anna and Catherine over time

Anna and Catherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 249 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 England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #142 and #590.

  • 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 · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anna held the stronger position in 30 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, 2025: Anna #142, Catherine #590.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Anna

Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Catherine

Pairs where Catherine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anna, Catherine
FieldAnnaCatherine
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA 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
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈa.na/
Syllables24
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #23 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1956–2021

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #142 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Catherine

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls