Catharina vs Laura
Catharina and Lauracompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1979, Catharina was ranked #523 and Laura #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2014, Catharina was ranked #549 and Laura #149 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2019, Catharina was ranked #5591 and Laura #176 among girls in England and Wales.
Catharina and Laura over time
Catharina and Laura appear together in 1 published list, across 44 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Catharina 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.
Catharina reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Laura 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 44 shared years in Norway · Girls, Laura rose about as far as Catharina fell — from #316 and #512 in 1963 to #549 and #149 in 2014.
- Longest-running competitions
Catharina and Laura were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 44 years, from 1963 to 2014, ending at #549 and #149.
List by list
Norway · Girls44 shared years, 1963–2014
Catharina held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Laura in 37.
Highest recorded here: Catharina #238 in 1989, Laura #133 in 1993.
The order changed in 1972: Laura moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #349 and #358; by 1972 that had become #361 and #351.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Catharina #549, Laura #149.
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 Laura
Pairs where Laura shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Laura vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #17 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #258 and #1743.
Laura · Shannon · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Laura vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #131 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #48 and #896.
Laura · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Laura vs Anita
In 1964 they stood at #131 and #130 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #91 and #905.
Laura · Anita · 53 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Laura vs Jade
In 1996 they stood at #17 and #19 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #258 and #638.
Laura · Jade · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Catharina | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5591 (2019) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Catharina does not have one recorded yet.
- Catharina has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Laura.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Catharina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Catharina
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #460 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1960–2014
Highest recorded position: #238 among girls in Norway, in 1989 (recorded 1960–2014).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2019
Most recently recorded at #5591 among girls in England and Wales, in 2019.
England and Wales · Girls
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — 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 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls