Namewise

Catherine vs Linda

Catherine and Lindacompared 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 1979, Catherine was ranked #34 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1986, Catherine was ranked #47 and Linda #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2021, Catherine was ranked #139 and Linda #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Linda #434 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.

Catherine and Linda over time

Catherine and Linda appear together in 5 published lists, across 197 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Linda 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.

Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Linda in 1. 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 1974, Catherine moved ahead of Linda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #28 the year before became #29 and #35.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Linda averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #47 and #99.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Catherine and Linda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #1892.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Linda in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Linda #13 in 1973.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Linda #718.

  • Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018

    Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Linda in 48.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Linda #1 in 1975.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Linda #434.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1952–1986

    Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Linda in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Linda #12 in 1963.

    The order changed in 1974: Catherine moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #32 and #28; by 1974 that had become #29 and #35.

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Catherine #47, Linda #99.

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

    Catherine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Linda in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Linda #1892.

  • New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979

    Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Linda in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Linda #7 in 1957.

    The order changed in 1966: Catherine moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #23 and #14; by 1966 that had become #21 and #27.

    Most recent shared year, 1979: Catherine #34, Linda #76.

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 Linda

Pairs where Linda 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 South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia'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 South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.

The 1980s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Catherine, Linda
FieldCatherineLinda
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recorded
Syllables42
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, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Linda.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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

Linda

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls