Catherine vs Nicola
Catherine and Nicolacompared 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 1996, Catherine was ranked #66 and Nicola #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1991, Catherine was ranked #68 and Nicola #77 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #213 and Nicola #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Catherine was ranked #228 and Nicola #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Nicola #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Nicola over time
Catherine and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nicola in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Nicola 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Nicola changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1957 and 1996, ending at #66 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 40 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Nicola averaged 20.0 places apart, ending at #66 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Nicola were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #4201.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #213, Nicola #898.
New Zealand · Girls40 shared years, 1957–1996
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nicola in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Nicola #2 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Catherine #66, Nicola #91.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nicola in 3.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Catherine held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nicola in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Catherine #228, Nicola #397.
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 | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls