Catherine vs Laura
Catherine and Lauracompared 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 Laura #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Laura #37 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Laura #111 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Laura #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Laura #351 among girls in Scotland.
Catherine and Laura over time
Catherine and Laura appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Catherine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Laura 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 1983, Laura moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #36 the year before became #39 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Laura changed places 11 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #253.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Laura averaged 43.2 places apart, ending at #99 and #37.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Laura were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 42 years, from 1947 to 2018, ending at #509 and #111.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Laura in 43.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #10 and #11; by 1983 that had become #12 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Laura #112.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Laura in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Laura #111 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Laura #111.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Laura #258.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Laura in 18.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Catherine moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #264 and #237; by 2024 that had become #227 and #253.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Laura #253.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1978–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Laura in 16.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #24 in 1980, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #32 and #57; by 1983 that had become #33 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Laura #37.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1976–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Laura in 11.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #30 in 1977, Laura #10 in 1993.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #34 and #36; by 1983 that had become #39 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Laura #22.
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 | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (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
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Laura.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; 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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — 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 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls