Catherine vs Mary
Catherine and Marycompared 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 1981, Catherine was ranked #31 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Catherine was ranked #60 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2002, Catherine was ranked #546 and Mary #301 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Mary over time
Catherine and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 233 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.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Catherine 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 1956, Catherine moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #22 the year before became #22 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Mary changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #594 and #337.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Mary averaged 30.7 places apart, ending at #31 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Mary were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1952 to 1981, ending at #31 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 62.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Mary #112.
Norway · Girls47 shared years, 1947–2002
Catherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Mary in 45.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Mary #59 in 1947.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Catherine #546, Mary #301.
New Zealand · Girls37 shared years, 1954–1991
Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Mary #6 in 1954.
The order changed in 1962: Catherine moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #24 and #22; by 1962 that had become #19 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Catherine #60, Mary #89.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1952–1981
Catherine held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Mary in 4.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Mary #19 in 1952.
The order changed in 1956: Catherine moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #32 and #22; by 1956 that had become #22 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Catherine #31, Mary #100.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Mary in 17.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Mary moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #313 and #320; by 2018 that had become #419 and #259.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Mary #337.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Mary in 5.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Mary moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #152 and #201; by 2023 that had become #264 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Mary #134.
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 | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Mary.
- 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
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls