Catherine vs Louise
Catherine and Louisecompared 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 1991, Catherine was ranked #68 and Louise #64 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Catherine was ranked #64 and Louise #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Louise #102 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Catherine was ranked #164 and Louise #296 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Louise #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Louise #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Louise over time
Catherine and Louise appear together in 6 published lists, across 234 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Louise in 2.
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 4 of those lists, and Louise 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Louise changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1991, ending at #68 and #64.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 40 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Louise averaged 14.3 places apart, ending at #68 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Louise were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 40 years, from 1952 to 1991, ending at #68 and #64.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Louise in 25.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Louise #5 in 1980.
The order changed in 2025: Louise moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #213 and #294; by 2025 that had become #273 and #213.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Louise #213.
New Zealand · Girls41 shared years, 1954–1994
Catherine held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Louise in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Louise #27 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Catherine #64, Louise #100.
Norway · Girls41 shared years, 1953–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Louise in 23.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Louise #102 in 2018.
The order changed in 1984: Louise moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #268 and #304; by 1984 that had become #399 and #268.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Louise #102.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls40 shared years, 1952–1991
Catherine held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Louise in 3.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Louise #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Catherine #68, Louise #64.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Louise in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Catherine moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #290 and #208; by 2011 that had become #233 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Louise #952.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Catherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Louise in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Louise #33 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Catherine #164, Louise #296.
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 | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /lu.ˈiz/ | |
| 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 #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Louise.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; 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
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls