Catherine vs Chelsea
Catherine and Chelseacompared 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 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Chelsea #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Chelsea #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Chelsea #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Chelsea #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Chelsea #983 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Chelsea over time
Catherine and Chelsea appear together in 4 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Chelsea in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 3 of those lists, and Chelsea 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 New Zealand · Girls, Chelsea moved into the top 50 at #31 in 1988 as Catherine fell out of it to #55, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Chelsea moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #46 and #65 the year before became #55 and #31.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Chelsea were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #983.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Chelsea #34 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1989–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Chelsea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #15 in 1989, Chelsea #54 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Chelsea #608.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Chelsea in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Chelsea #34 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Catherine moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #290 and #220; by 2011 that had become #233 and #336.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Chelsea #983.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Chelsea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Chelsea #35 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Chelsea #407.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1987–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Chelsea in 11.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #46 in 1987, Chelsea #19 in 1994.
The order changed in 1988: Chelsea moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #46 and #65; by 1988 that had become #55 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Chelsea #78.
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Chelsea.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
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
Chelsea
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #65 among girls in New Zealand in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1987–2008
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1994 (recorded 1987–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #983 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls