Catherine vs Ellen
Catherine and Ellencompared 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 1996, Catherine was ranked #66 and Ellen #73 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1993, Catherine was ranked #88 and Ellen #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Ellen #150 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Ellen #159 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Ellen #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Ellen #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Ellen #736 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Ellen over time
Catherine and Ellen appear together in 4 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, Ellen 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 2022, Ellen moved ahead of Catherine in Northern Ireland · Girls — #139 and #143 the year before became #152 and #121.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Ellen changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #150.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Catherine and Ellen averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #227 and #150.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Ellen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 48 years, from 1947 to 2018, ending at #509 and #159.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Ellen #63 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Ellen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Ellen #23 in 2002.
The order changed in 1996: Ellen moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #26 and #28; by 1996 that had become #35 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Ellen #166.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ellen in 48.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Ellen #22 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Ellen #159.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ellen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Ellen #63 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Catherine moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #290 and #216; by 2011 that had become #233 and #258.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Ellen #736.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ellen in 22.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Ellen #21 in 2000.
The order changed in 2022: Ellen moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #139 and #143; by 2022 that had become #152 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Ellen #150.
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 | Ellen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Ellen.
- 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 #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls