Catherine vs Jane
Catherine and Janecompared 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 1984, Catherine was ranked #38 and Jane #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Catherine was ranked #55 and Jane #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Jane #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2002, Catherine was ranked #546 and Jane #619 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Jane over time
Catherine and Jane appear together in 6 published lists, across 232 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jane 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.
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 2022, Jane moved ahead of Catherine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #190 and #228 the year before became #304 and #195.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Jane changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #273 and #213.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Jane averaged 25.2 places apart, ending at #38 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Jane were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #38 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Jane in 14.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Jane #59 in 1964.
The order changed in 2022: Jane moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #190 and #228; by 2022 that had become #304 and #195.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Jane #213.
Norway · Girls47 shared years, 1947–2002
Catherine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Jane in 44.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Jane #73 in 1960.
The order changed in 2001: Catherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #546 and #279; by 2001 that had become #483 and #537.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Catherine #546, Jane #619.
New Zealand · Girls34 shared years, 1954–1988
Catherine held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Jane #28 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Catherine #55, Jane #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1984
Catherine held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Jane #25 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Catherine #38, Jane #93.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Jane #1160.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Jane #80 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Jane #288.
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 | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Jane.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls