Namewise

Bernadette vs Kathleen

Bernadette and Kathleencompared 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 1970, Bernadette was ranked #95 and Kathleen #59 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Bernadette was ranked #718 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Bernadette was ranked #407 and Kathleen #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Bernadette was ranked #1719 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.

Bernadette and Kathleen over time

Bernadette and Kathleen appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bernadette 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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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 1982, Kathleen moved ahead of Bernadette in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #59 and #60 the year before became #74 and #62.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Bernadette and Kathleen changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #718 and #352.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Bernadette and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #997.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bernadette #620 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #15 and #23 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #352.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2025

    Bernadette held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kathleen in 40.

    Highest recorded here: Bernadette #12 in 1969, Kathleen #18 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1982: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #59 and #60; by 1982 that had become #74 and #62.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bernadette #718, Kathleen #352.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Bernadette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Bernadette #620 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bernadette #1719, Kathleen #997.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1958–1970

    Bernadette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Bernadette #79 in 1958, Kathleen #38 in 1960.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1970: Bernadette #95, Kathleen #59.

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 Bernadette

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

Other comparisons involving Kathleen

Pairs where Kathleen 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

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 Bernadette, Kathleen
FieldBernadetteKathleen
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)64/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Bernadette has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Kathleen.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Bernadette

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1958

    First recorded at #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Kathleen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls