Catherine vs Grace
Catherine and Gracecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Grace #1 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Grace #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Grace #5 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Grace #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Grace #13 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Grace #25 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Grace #407 among girls in Norway.
Catherine and Grace over time
Catherine and Grace appear together in 5 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Catherine in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, Grace 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Grace moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1991 as Catherine fell out of it to #60, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Grace moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #50 and #66 the year before became #60 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Grace changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 2018, ending at #509 and #407.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Grace were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 36 years, from 1953 to 2018, ending at #509 and #407.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Grace in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Grace #1 in 2020.
The order changed in 1998: Grace moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #34 and #45; by 1998 that had become #51 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Grace #4.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1953–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Grace in 7.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Grace #321 in 1959.
The order changed in 2018: Grace moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #546 and #556; by 2018 that had become #509 and #407.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Grace #407.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Grace in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Grace #1 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Grace #25.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Grace in 23.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Grace #1 in 2013.
The order changed in 2002: Grace moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #38 and #44; by 2002 that had become #36 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Grace #1.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1987–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Grace in 8.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #46 in 1987, Grace #5 in 2001.
The order changed in 1991: Grace moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #50 and #66; by 1991 that had become #60 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Grace #5.
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 | Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English (virtue name), from Latin gratia |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹeɪs/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Gracie |
| 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 #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Grace has a recorded origin (English (virtue name), from Latin gratia); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Grace.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Catherine a "medium" Data Confidence level and Grace a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Grace
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #393 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls