Namewise

Catherine vs Pauline

Catherine and Paulinecompared 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 1966, Catherine was ranked #11 and Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1971, Catherine was ranked #23 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2018, Catherine was ranked #124 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Pauline #395 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.

Catherine and Pauline over time

Catherine and Pauline appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Pauline in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 Pauline in New Zealand · Girls — #36 and #31 the year before became #27 and #33.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Catherine and Pauline changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 2018, ending at #509 and #395.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Catherine and Pauline were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #124 and #896.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #2 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2018 they were #124 and #896.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018

    Catherine held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Pauline #12 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #124, Pauline #896.

  • England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Pauline #4201.

  • Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1953–2018

    Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Pauline in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Pauline #242 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2018: Pauline moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #546 and #576; by 2018 that had become #509 and #395.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Pauline #395.

  • New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1954–1971

    Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Pauline in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Pauline #31 in 1955.

    The order changed in 1956: Catherine moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #36 and #31; by 1956 that had become #27 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 1971: Catherine #23, Pauline #86.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966

    Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pauline in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Pauline #52 in 1954.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1966: Catherine #11, Pauline #86.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Catherine

Pairs where Catherine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Pauline

Pairs where Pauline shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Catherine, Pauline
FieldCatherinePauline
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
Syllables43
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Pauline.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Catherine

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Pauline

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2018

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls