Catherine vs Helen
Catherine and Helencompared 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 1982, Catherine was ranked #34 and Helen #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Catherine was ranked #50 and Helen #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Helen #541 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Catherine was ranked #264 and Helen #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Helen #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Helen #373 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Helen #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Helen over time
Catherine and Helen appear together in 6 published lists, across 224 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Helen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Helen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Catherine in 2. 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 1959, Catherine moved ahead of Helen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #20 and #18 the year before became #10 and #16.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Helen averaged 19.9 places apart, ending at #34 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Helen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1952 to 1982, ending at #34 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Helen #108 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Helen in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Helen #11 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Helen #381.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helen in 48.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Helen #93 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Helen #373.
New Zealand · Girls37 shared years, 1954–1990
Catherine held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Helen in 16.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Helen #12 in 1958.
The order changed in 1970: Catherine moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #24 and #23; by 1970 that had become #22 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Catherine #50, Helen #84.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1952–1982
Catherine held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Helen in 7.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Helen #9 in 1952.
The order changed in 1959: Catherine moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #20 and #18; by 1959 that had become #10 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Catherine #34, Helen #84.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Helen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Helen #108 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Helen #885.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2023
Catherine held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Helen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Helen #132 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Catherine #264, Helen #391.
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 | Helen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The English form of Greek Helene. The meaning is genuinely debated among scholars — likely from Greek 'helene' ('torch'), though some suggest a connection to 'selene' ('moon'). In mythology, Helen's abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War; the name's continued Christian use stems from Saint Helena. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, meaning disputed |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena |
| 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 #381 (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
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Helen.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; 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 Helen 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
Helen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #149 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #438 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls