Catherine vs Katherine
Catherine and Katherinecompared 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 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Katherine #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #483 and Katherine #334 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Katherine over time
Catherine and Katherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 220 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Katherine in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 5 of those lists, and Katherine 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 1982, Katherine moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #33 the year before became #34 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Katherine changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #594 and #594.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Catherine and Katherine averaged 42.1 places apart, ending at #594 and #594.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Katherine were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 38 years, from 1956 to 2000, ending at #90 and #81.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Katherine #608.
New Zealand · Girls40 shared years, 1955–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Katherine in 9.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Katherine #32 in 1984.
The order changed in 1997: Katherine moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #66 and #69; by 1997 that had become #96 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Katherine #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1956–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Katherine in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Katherine #24 in 1982.
The order changed in 1982: Katherine moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #31 and #33; by 1982 that had become #34 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Katherine #81.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Katherine in 20.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Katherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Katherine #288.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Katherine in 2.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order changed in 2001: Katherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #552 and #614; by 2001 that had become #483 and #334.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #483, Katherine #334.
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 | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine and Katherine both have 4 syllables.
- 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
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls