Namewise

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 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Ella #39 among girls in England and Wales.

Catherine and Ella over time

Catherine and Ella appear together in 4 published lists, across 144 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.

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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ella in 29.

    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, 2024: Catherine #594, Ella #39.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Catherine

Pairs where Catherine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Ella

Pairs where Ella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Catherine, Ella
FieldCatherineElla
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA 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.
OriginNot yet recordedGermanic, diminutive form
Pronunciation/ˈɛl.ə/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)Norway · Girls #4 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Ella

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1993–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls