Anne vs Catherine
Anne 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Catherine #27 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Catherine #34 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Catherine #113 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Anne was ranked #130 and Catherine #509 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Catherine #260 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Catherine #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Catherine over time
Anne and Catherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 194 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Anne in 1.
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.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Catherine in 2. 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 1958, Catherine moved ahead of Anne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #14 and #20 the year before became #21 and #20.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Catherine averaged 24.4 places apart, ending at #80 and #34.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Catherine were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 48 years, from 1947 to 2018, ending at #130 and #509.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Catherine #68 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #2 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #544 and #273.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 61.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Catherine #2 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Catherine #273.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018
Anne held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1947, Catherine #196 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Anne #130, Catherine #509.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Catherine #594.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Anne held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Catherine in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Catherine #8 in 1963.
The order changed in 1958: Catherine moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #14 and #20; by 1958 that had become #21 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Catherine #34.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1954–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Catherine in 12.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Catherine #16 in 1963.
The order changed in 1961: Catherine moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #24 and #25; by 1961 that had become #28 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Catherine #27.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Catherine #28 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Catherine #113.
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 | Anne | Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | 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 #159 (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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; 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 Anne 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
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 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