Belle vs Catherine
Belle 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Belle was ranked #407 and Catherine #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Belle was ranked #295 and Catherine #260 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Belle was ranked #325 and Catherine #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Belle was ranked #311 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Belle and Catherine over time
Belle and Catherine appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Belle in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 of those lists, and Belle 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Belle held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Catherine in 19.
Highest recorded here: Belle #229 in 2018, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order changed in 2016: Belle moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #268 and #263; by 2016 that had become #261 and #304.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Belle #311, Catherine #594.
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2006–2025
Belle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 20.
Highest recorded here: Belle #220 in 2020, Catherine #99 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Belle #325, Catherine #273.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2011–2024
Belle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Belle #179 in 2018, Catherine #83 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Belle #407, 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 | Belle | Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Belle has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Belle
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2096 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2011–2024
Highest recorded position: #179 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2018 (recorded 2011–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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