Catherine vs Margaret

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 1974, Catherine was ranked #29 and Margaret #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• New Zealand · Girls

  In 1984, Catherine was ranked #37 and Margaret #80 among girls in New Zealand.

• Republic of Ireland · Girls

  In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Margaret #135 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

• Northern Ireland · Girls

  In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Margaret #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

• Scotland · Girls

  In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Margaret #244 among girls in Scotland.

• England and Wales · Girls

  In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Margaret #413 among girls in England and Wales.

• Norway · Girls

  In 2001, Catherine was ranked #483 and Margaret #599 among girls in Norway.

Catherine and Margaret over time

Catherine and Margaret appear together in 6 published lists, across 203 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Margaret in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.

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.

List by list

• Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

  Catherine held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Margaret in 10.

  Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Margaret #2 in 1965.

  The order changed in 2021: Margaret moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #165 and #220; by 2021 that had become #190 and #190.

  Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Margaret #135.

• Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1947–2001

  Catherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Margaret in 15.

  Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Margaret #108 in 1953.

  The order changed in 1974: Catherine moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #391 and #295; by 1974 that had become #267 and #383.

  Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #483, Margaret #599.

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

  Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Margaret in 8.

  Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Margaret #357 in 2020.

  The order changed in 2018: Margaret moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #313 and #413; by 2018 that had become #419 and #392.

  Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Margaret #413.

• Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024

  Catherine held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Margaret in 0.

  Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Margaret #119 in 2000.

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

  Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Margaret #407.

• New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1954–1984

  Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Margaret in 8.

  Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Margaret #3 in 1954.

  The order changed in 1962: Catherine moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #24 and #17; by 1962 that had become #19 and #21.

  Most recent shared year, 1984: Catherine #37, Margaret #80.

• New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974

  Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Margaret in 7.

  Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Margaret #3 in 1952.

  The order changed in 1959: Catherine moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #20 and #9; by 1959 that had become #10 and #11.

  Most recent shared year, 1974: Catherine #29, Margaret #93.

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.

Side by side

How each name got here