Namewise

Bridget vs Kathleen

Bridget 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 1984, Bridget was ranked #84 and Kathleen #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Bridget was ranked #213 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

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

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Bridget was ranked #845 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.

Bridget and Kathleen over time

Bridget and Kathleen appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bridget in 1.

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.

Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Bridget 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

    Bridget and Kathleen changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #845 and #997.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Bridget and Kathleen averaged 27.0 places apart, ending at #213 and #352.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Bridget and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #845 and #997.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bridget #444 in 1998, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Bridget held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Kathleen in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Bridget #7 in 1967, Kathleen #18 in 1965.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #213, Kathleen #352.

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

    Bridget held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kathleen in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Bridget #444 in 1998, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2021: Bridget moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #992 and #807; by 2021 that had become #709 and #983.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #845, Kathleen #997.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1998–2024

    Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Bridget #282 in 2009, Kathleen #129 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Bridget #407, Kathleen #407.

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 Bridget

Pairs where Bridget 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 — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

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 Bridget, Kathleen
FieldBridgetKathleen
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn Anglicized form of the Irish Brighid, with roots in old Celtic 'Brigantī' ('the exalted one'). In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom; the name is also associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint, and with the Scandinavian Birgitta (Saint Birgitta of Sweden).Not yet recorded
OriginCeltic (Irish)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Bridget has a recorded origin (Celtic (Irish)); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Bridget and Kathleen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Bridget; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Bridget

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #845 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