Catherine vs Michelle
Catherine and Michellecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Catherine was ranked #96 and Michelle #78 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Michelle #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Michelle #204 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Michelle #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Michelle #260 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Michelle #304 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Michelle #360 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Michelle over time
Catherine and Michelle appear together in 6 published lists, across 229 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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Michelle 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 1964, Michelle moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #8 and #9 the year before became #10 and #6.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Michelle changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #594 and #360.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Michelle averaged 23.8 places apart, ending at #90 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Michelle were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 42 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #90 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Michelle #153 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Michelle in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Michelle #2 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Michelle #304.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls42 shared years, 1952–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Michelle in 32.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Michelle #1 in 1967.
The order changed in 1964: Michelle moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #8 and #9; by 1964 that had become #10 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Michelle #85.
New Zealand · Girls41 shared years, 1957–1997
Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Michelle in 37.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Michelle #1 in 1966.
The order changed in 1961: Michelle moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #25 and #31; by 1961 that had become #24 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Catherine #96, Michelle #78.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1966–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Michelle in 24.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Michelle #94 in 1991.
The order changed in 1981: Michelle moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #259 and #285; by 1981 that had become #399 and #219.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Michelle #204.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Michelle in 9.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Michelle #153 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Michelle moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #457 and #476; by 2022 that had become #490 and #419.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Michelle #360.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Michelle in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Michelle #111 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Michelle #407.
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 | Michelle |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #304 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Michelle.
- 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
Michelle
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #95 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 recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1967 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls