Catherine vs Ella
Catherine and Ellacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Ella #5 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Ella #9 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Ella #12 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Ella #12 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Ella #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Ella #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Ella #46 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Ella over time
Catherine and Ella appear together in 4 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Catherine in 0.
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 4 of those lists, and Ella 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, Ella moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2003 as Catherine fell out of it to #53, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Ella moved ahead of Catherine in Northern Ireland · Girls — #36 and #45 the year before became #53 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Ella changed places 10 times in Norway · Girls between 1947 and 2018, ending at #509 and #5.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Ella were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #46.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ella in 25.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1970, Ella #3 in 2007.
The order changed in 2001: Ella moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #60 and #65; by 2001 that had become #54 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Ella #17.
Norway · Girls41 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Ella in 21.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Ella #5 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Ella #5.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ella in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Ella #6 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Ella #46.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ella in 22.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Ella #2 in 2015.
The order changed in 2003: Ella moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #36 and #45; by 2003 that had become #53 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Ella #12.
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 | Ella |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Ella.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; 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
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #46 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls