Catherine vs Maria
Catherine and Mariacompared 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 Maria #34 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Catherine was ranked #43 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Maria #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Catherine was ranked #96 and Maria #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Maria #97 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Maria #120 among girls in Scotland.
Catherine and Maria over time
Catherine and Maria appear together in 6 published lists, across 243 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 6 of those lists, and Maria 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 2003, Maria moved ahead of Catherine in England and Wales · Girls — #109 and #110 the year before became #123 and #108.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Maria averaged 17.3 places apart, ending at #43 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Maria were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #43 and #95.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Maria in 24.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order changed in 2002: Maria moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #54 and #58; by 2002 that had become #58 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Maria #74.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1947–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 48.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Maria #34.
New Zealand · Girls43 shared years, 1954–1997
Catherine held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Maria in 2.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Catherine #96, Maria #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1985
Catherine held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Maria in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Catherine #43, Maria #95.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maria in 22.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order changed in 2003: Maria moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #109 and #110; by 2003 that had become #123 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Maria #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Maria in 16.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Maria #49 in 2009.
The order changed in 2014: Maria moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #83 and #95; by 2014 that had become #116 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Maria #97.
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 | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ | |
| 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 #62 (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
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Maria.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; 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
Maria
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1982 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls