Catherine vs Julia
Catherine and Juliacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Julia #44 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Julia #70 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Julia #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Julia #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Julia #188 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Julia #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Julia over time
Catherine and Julia appear together in 6 published lists, across 202 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Julia in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 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 6 of those lists, and Julia 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Julia moved ahead of Catherine in England and Wales · Girls — #188 and #218 the year before became #189 and #156.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Julia changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #212.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Julia averaged 35.0 places apart, ending at #99 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Julia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1953 to 2018, ending at #509 and #44.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Julia in 20.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order changed in 2006: Julia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #83 and #97; by 2006 that had become #99 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Julia #118.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1953–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Julia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Julia #44 in 2018.
The order changed in 1973: Julia moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #196 and #288; by 1973 that had become #391 and #204.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Julia #44.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Julia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order changed in 2006: Julia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #188 and #218; by 2006 that had become #189 and #156.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Julia #223.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Julia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Julia #68 in 2011.
The order changed in 2022: Julia moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #139 and #190; by 2022 that had become #152 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Julia #212.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1970–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Julia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Julia #26 in 1983.
The order changed in 2001: Julia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #66 and #76; by 2001 that had become #99 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Julia #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1970–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Julia in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #18 in 1970, Julia #70 in 2000.
The order changed in 2000: Julia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #68 and #96; by 2000 that had become #90 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Julia #70.
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 | Julia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Norway · Girls #85 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Julia.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; 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
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
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls