Catherine vs Charlotte
Catherine and Charlottecompared 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, Catherine was ranked #227 and Charlotte #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Charlotte #10 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Charlotte #16 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Charlotte #25 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Charlotte #26 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Charlotte #43 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Charlotte #122 among girls in Norway.
Catherine and Charlotte over time
Catherine and Charlotte appear together in 5 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Charlotte held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Catherine in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 5 of those lists, and Charlotte 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Charlotte moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2007 as Catherine fell out of it to #57, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1986, Charlotte moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #38 and #44 the year before became #48 and #30.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Charlotte averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #99 and #16.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Charlotte were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #25.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Charlotte in 21.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Charlotte #39 in 2018.
The order changed in 2005: Charlotte moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #64 and #76; by 2005 that had become #83 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Charlotte #43.
Norway · Girls44 shared years, 1957–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Charlotte in 42.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Charlotte #12 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Charlotte #122.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Charlotte in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Charlotte #5 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Charlotte #25.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Charlotte in 21.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Charlotte #6 in 2024.
The order changed in 2007: Charlotte moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #41 and #48; by 2007 that had become #57 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Charlotte #6.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1974–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Charlotte in 13.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #21 in 1975, Charlotte #16 in 2001.
The order changed in 1986: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #38 and #44; by 1986 that had become #48 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Charlotte #16.
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 | Catherine | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Free man (feminine form of Charles). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | French, feminine of Charles |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɑɹlət/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Lottie, Charlie, Carlotta |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Charlotte has a recorded origin (French, feminine of Charles); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Charlotte.
- A meaning is recorded for Charlotte; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Catherine a "medium" Data Confidence level and Charlotte a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Charlotte
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1989–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2012 (recorded 1989–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls