Bethan vs Catherine
Bethan 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 2012, Bethan was ranked #451 and Catherine #89 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Bethan was ranked #873 and Catherine #184 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bethan was ranked #2115 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Bethan and Catherine over time
Bethan and Catherine appear together in 3 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bethan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Bethan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bethan and Catherine changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2115 and #594.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bethan #72 in 1996, Catherine #68 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #68 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #2115 and #594.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bethan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Catherine in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bethan #72 in 1996, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethan #2115, Catherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2012
Bethan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Bethan #167 in 1999, Catherine #22 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Bethan #451, Catherine #89.
Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1995–2017
Bethan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Catherine in 8.
Highest recorded here: Bethan #512 in 2002, Catherine #26 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Bethan #873, Catherine #184.
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 | Bethan | 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, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bethan has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bethan
Popularity journey
First recorded1995
First recorded at #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #72 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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