Catherine vs Nicole
Catherine and Nicolecompared 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 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Nicole #38 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Nicole #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Nicole #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Nicole #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Nicole #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Nicole #328 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Nicole #376 among girls in Norway.
Catherine and Nicole over time
Catherine and Nicole appear together in 6 published lists, across 211 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Catherine in 0.
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 Nicole 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 1969, Nicole moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #9 and #13 the year before became #16 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Nicole changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2018, ending at #509 and #376.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Nicole averaged 32.5 places apart, ending at #90 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Nicole were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1964 to 2000, ending at #90 and #78.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Nicole in 31.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Nicole #15 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Nicole #381.
Norway · Girls33 shared years, 1969–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nicole in 18.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Nicole #230 in 1993.
The order changed in 1990: Nicole moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #370 and #400; by 1990 that had become #472 and #353.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Nicole #376.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicole in 25.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #9 in 1968, Nicole #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1969: Nicole moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #9 and #13; by 1969 that had become #16 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Nicole #78.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1969–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nicole in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Nicole #5 in 1987.
The order changed in 1984: Nicole moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #33 and #45; by 1984 that had become #37 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Nicole #38.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicole in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Nicole #328.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nicole in 18.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Nicole #14 in 1998.
The order changed in 2019: Catherine moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #179 and #179; by 2019 that had become #157 and #200.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Nicole #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 | Nicole |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ | |
| 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 #381 (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
- Nicole has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicole.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicole; 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
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #448 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls