Ashleigh vs Katherine
Ashleigh 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 2000, Ashleigh was ranked #38 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Ashleigh was ranked #40 and Katherine #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Ashleigh was ranked #440 and Katherine #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Ashleigh was ranked #764 and Katherine #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ashleigh was ranked #2788 and Katherine #872 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashleigh and Katherine over time
Ashleigh and Katherine appear together in 5 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ashleigh 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.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ashleigh in 1. 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 New Zealand · Girls, Ashleigh moved into the top 50 at #31 in 1987 as Katherine fell out of it to #57, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Ashleigh moved ahead of Katherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #29 the year before became #24 and #29.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashleigh and Katherine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2788 and #872.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2788 and #872.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls37 shared years, 1971–2021
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 37.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #162 in 1995, Katherine #87 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ashleigh #764, Katherine #517.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashleigh #2788, Katherine #872.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2016
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Katherine in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #87 in 1997, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Ashleigh #440, Katherine #353.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1985–2000
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Katherine in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #13 in 1993, Katherine #25 in 1985.
The order changed in 1987: Ashleigh moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #31 and #29; by 1987 that had become #24 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Ashleigh #38, Katherine #81.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1986–2001
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Katherine in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #8 in 1992, Katherine #40 in 1989.
The order changed in 1987: Ashleigh moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #62 and #42; by 1987 that had become #31 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Ashleigh #40, Katherine #76.
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 | Ashleigh | 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 53/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ashleigh has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashleigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls