Catherine vs Ciara
Catherine and Ciaracompared 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 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Ciara #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Ciara #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Ciara #215 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Ciara #894 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Ciara over time
Catherine and Ciara appear together in 3 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Ciara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Catherine 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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ciara 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1985, Ciara moved ahead of Catherine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #7 and #13 the year before became #14 and #8.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Ciara changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #590 and #894.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Catherine and Ciara averaged 25.0 places apart, ending at #227 and #127.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Ciara were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #894.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Ciara #124 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ciara in 41.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Ciara #2 in 1998.
The order changed in 1985: Ciara moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #7 and #13; by 1985 that had become #14 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Ciara #106.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ciara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Ciara #124 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Ciara #894.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ciara in 23.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Ciara #18 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Ciara #127.
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 | Ciara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Feminine form of Ciar; traditionally interpreted as 'dark' or 'black', historically describing hair or complexion. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɪərə/ | |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #106 (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
- Ciara has a recorded origin (Irish); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Ciara.
- A meaning is recorded for Ciara; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Ciara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #146 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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #894 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls