Catherine vs Maureen
Catherine and Maureencompared 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 1962, Catherine was ranked #9 and Maureen #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1964, Catherine was ranked #20 and Maureen #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Catherine was ranked #41 and Maureen #384 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Catherine was ranked #112 and Maureen #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Maureen #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Maureen over time
Catherine and Maureen appear together in 4 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Maureen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Maureen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1953, Catherine moved ahead of Maureen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #33 and #31 the year before became #28 and #41.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Maureen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1964 to 2013, ending at #112 and #747.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #2 in 1964, Maureen #91 in 1964.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1964–2013
Catherine held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Maureen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Maureen #91 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Catherine #112, Maureen #747.
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Maureen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Maureen #1805 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Maureen #3695.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1952–1962
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maureen in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #9 in 1962, Maureen #31 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: Catherine moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #33 and #31; by 1953 that had become #28 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1962: Catherine #9, Maureen #89.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Catherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Maureen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Maureen #42 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Catherine #20, Maureen #96.
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 | Maureen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Maureen.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Maureen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1962
Highest recorded position: #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1962).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls