Catherine vs Heather
Catherine and Heathercompared 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 1983, Catherine was ranked #33 and Heather #94 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Catherine was ranked #47 and Heather #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Catherine was ranked #57 and Heather #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Heather #351 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Heather #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Heather #826 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Heather over time
Catherine and Heather appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Heather in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1960, Catherine moved ahead of Heather in New Zealand · Girls — #26 and #23 the year before became #25 and #28.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Heather averaged 48.4 places apart, ending at #47 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Heather were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #273 and #325.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Heather #78 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #78 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #594 and #826.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Heather in 2.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Heather #83 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Heather #325.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Heather #78 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Heather #826.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1954–1983
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Heather in 5.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Heather #15 in 1955.
The order changed in 1960: Catherine moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #26 and #23; by 1960 that had become #25 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Catherine #33, Heather #94.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1952–1986
Catherine held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Heather #44 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Catherine #47, Heather #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007
Catherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Heather in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Heather #166 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Catherine #57, Heather #351.
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 | Heather |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Heather.
- 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
Heather
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls