Namewise

Catherine vs Jennifer

Catherine and Jennifercompared 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 Jennifer #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Catherine was ranked #152 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2002, Catherine was ranked #546 and Jennifer #201 among girls in Norway.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.

Catherine and Jennifer over time

Catherine and Jennifer appear together in 6 published lists, across 236 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Catherine 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 1984, Jennifer moved ahead of Catherine in Norway · Girls — #268 and #272 the year before became #399 and #195.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Catherine and Jennifer changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #590 and #650.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Catherine and Jennifer averaged 51.3 places apart, ending at #590 and #650.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 35 shared years in Norway · Girls, Jennifer rose about as far as Catherine fell — from #317 and #506 in 1963 to #546 and #201 in 2002.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Catherine and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #650.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jennifer in 31.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Jennifer #4 in 1981.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Jennifer #413.

  • New Zealand · Girls45 shared years, 1954–2001

    Catherine held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jennifer in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Jennifer #4 in 1957.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Jennifer #88.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls42 shared years, 1952–2000

    Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 42.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Jennifer #1 in 1956.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Jennifer #63.

  • Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1963–2002

    Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jennifer in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Jennifer #192 in 1985.

    The order changed in 1984: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #268 and #272; by 1984 that had become #399 and #195.

    Most recent shared year, 2002: Catherine #546, Jennifer #201.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jennifer in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2025: Catherine moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #594 and #483; by 2025 that had become #590 and #650.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Jennifer #650.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022

    Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jennifer in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Jennifer #55 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Catherine #152, Jennifer #354.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Catherine

Pairs where Catherine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Jennifer

Pairs where Jennifer shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Catherine, Jennifer
FieldCatherineJennifer
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption.
OriginNot yet recordedWelsh, via Cornish transmission
Pronunciation/ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/
Syllables43
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
  • A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Catherine

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Jennifer

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1952–2003

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls