Catherine vs Claire
Catherine and Clairecompared 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 1993, Catherine was ranked #60 and Claire #85 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Claire #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Claire #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Claire #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Claire #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Claire #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Claire over time
Catherine and Claire appear together in 5 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Claire 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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Claire 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 1988, Claire moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #48 and #53 the year before became #65 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Claire changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1993, ending at #60 and #85.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Claire averaged 32.8 places apart, ending at #60 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Claire were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Claire #90 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Claire in 22.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Claire #10 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Claire #352.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1993
Catherine held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Claire in 9.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Claire #23 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Catherine #60, Claire #85.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Claire in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Claire #90 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Claire #1362.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Claire in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Claire #26 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Claire #407.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1976–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Claire in 6.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #30 in 1977, Claire #40 in 1990.
The order changed in 1988: Claire moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #48 and #53; by 1988 that had become #65 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Claire #65.
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 | Claire |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Clara |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Claire has a recorded origin (Latin, via French transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Claire.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Catherine a "medium" Data Confidence level and Claire 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
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls