Catherine vs Emma
Catherine and Emmacompared 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 Emma #1 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Emma #3 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Emma #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Emma #28 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Emma #53 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Emma #69 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Emma #84 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Catherine and Emma over time
Catherine and Emma appear together in 6 published lists, across 217 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Catherine in 0.
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 6 of those lists, and Emma 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 1975, Emma moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #29 and #42 the year before became #26 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Emma changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1947 and 2018, ending at #509 and #1.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Emma averaged 38.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #7.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Emma were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 30 years, from 1969 to 2001, ending at #99 and #3.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Emma #13 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Emma in 44.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order changed in 1985: Emma moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #7 and #8; by 1985 that had become #14 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Emma #28.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Emma in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Emma #1 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Emma #1.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1969–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Emma in 23.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Emma #2 in 1988.
The order changed in 1976: Emma moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #21 and #22; by 1976 that had become #23 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Emma #3.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Emma #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Emma #69.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Emma in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Emma #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Emma #84.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1969–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Emma in 19.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1969, Emma #3 in 1988.
The order changed in 1975: Emma moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #29 and #42; by 1975 that had become #26 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Emma #7.
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 | Emma |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.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 #1 (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
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Emma.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; 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 #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Emma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls