Catherine vs Leah
Catherine and Leahcompared 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 Leah #16 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Leah #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Leah #58 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1991, Catherine was ranked #68 and Leah #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Leah #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Leah #145 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Leah #184 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Leah over time
Catherine and Leah appear together in 6 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 6 of those lists, and Leah 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 1997, Leah moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #66 and #89 the year before became #96 and #73.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Leah averaged 36.7 places apart, ending at #68 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Leah were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #273 and #55.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1966–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Leah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1966, Leah #9 in 2004.
The order changed in 1997: Leah moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #35 and #38; by 1997 that had become #34 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Leah #55.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Leah #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Leah #184.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Leah in 25.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Leah #10 in 2005.
The order changed in 2000: Leah moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #30 and #31; by 2000 that had become #31 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Leah #119.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1968–1991
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Leah in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #9 in 1968, Leah #47 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Catherine #68, Leah #100.
Norway · Girls16 shared years, 1982–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Leah in 6.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #281 in 1988, Leah #16 in 2018.
The order changed in 1996: Leah moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #353 and #639; by 1996 that had become #475 and #380.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Leah #16.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1976–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Leah in 3.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #23 in 1976, Leah #58 in 2001.
The order changed in 1997: Leah moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #66 and #89; by 1997 that had become #96 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Leah #58.
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 | Leah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely derives from a Hebrew word meaning 'weary, grieved'; an alternative theory suggests a connection to Akkadian 'littu' ('cow'). In the Old Testament, Leah was Jacob's first wife. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 1 |
| 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 #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Leah.
- A meaning is recorded for Leah; 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
Leah
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #310 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls