Catherine vs Hayley
Catherine and Hayleycompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Hayley #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Hayley #47 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Hayley #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Hayley #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Hayley #230 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Hayley #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Hayley over time
Catherine and Hayley appear together in 5 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Hayley in 2.
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 3 of those lists, and Hayley 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 New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hayley moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1988 as Catherine fell out of it to #65, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Hayley moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #48 and #52 the year before became #65 and #36.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Hayley averaged 31.0 places apart, ending at #99 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Hayley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #273 and #148.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Hayley #57 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1968–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Hayley in 11.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1968, Hayley #48 in 1997.
The order changed in 2016: Hayley moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #172 and #197; by 2016 that had become #187 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Hayley #148.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Hayley in 4.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Hayley #57 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Hayley #503.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Hayley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Hayley #57 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Hayley #227.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1973–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Hayley in 19.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Hayley #14 in 1990.
The order changed in 1981: Hayley moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #24 and #31; by 1981 that had become #27 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Hayley #47.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1979–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Hayley in 11.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #30 in 1980, Hayley #19 in 1991.
The order changed in 1988: Hayley moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #48 and #52; by 1988 that had become #65 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Hayley #28.
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 | Hayley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Hayley.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls