Catherine vs Elizabeth
Catherine and Elizabethcompared 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 Elizabeth #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Elizabeth #54 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Elizabeth #74 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Elizabeth #76 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Elizabeth #87 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Elizabeth #113 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Elizabeth #329 among girls in Norway.
Catherine and Elizabeth over time
Catherine and Elizabeth appear together in 6 published lists, across 255 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Catherine 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.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Catherine in 1. 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 2014, Elizabeth moved ahead of Catherine in Northern Ireland · Girls — #83 and #106 the year before became #116 and #86.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Elizabeth changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 2000, ending at #90 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Elizabeth averaged 16.3 places apart, ending at #90 and #31.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Elizabeth were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #74.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Elizabeth #26 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Elizabeth in 23.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Elizabeth #5 in 1969.
The order changed in 2003: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #58 and #62; by 2003 that had become #71 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Elizabeth #76.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Elizabeth in 43.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Elizabeth #154 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Elizabeth #329.
New Zealand · Girls45 shared years, 1954–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Elizabeth in 37.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Elizabeth #7 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Elizabeth #54.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls42 shared years, 1952–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Elizabeth in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Elizabeth #10 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Elizabeth #31.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elizabeth in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Elizabeth #26 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Elizabeth #74.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Elizabeth in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Elizabeth #55 in 1997.
The order changed in 2014: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #83 and #106; by 2014 that had become #116 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Elizabeth #87.
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 | Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Greek Elisabet, from Hebrew Elisheva, combining 'el' (God) with 'shava' ('oath') — 'my God is an oath'. Appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, Aaron's wife, and in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 4 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #74 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Elizabeth has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine and Elizabeth both have 4 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elizabeth; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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
Elizabeth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #341 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: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #74 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls