Catherine vs Phoebe
Catherine and Phoebecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Phoebe #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Phoebe #30 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Phoebe #46 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Phoebe #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Phoebe #65 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Catherine and Phoebe over time
Catherine and Phoebe appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Phoebe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Catherine in 1.
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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Phoebe 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 2008, Phoebe moved ahead of Catherine in Northern Ireland · Girls — #57 and #91 the year before became #84 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Phoebe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #273 and #97.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #65 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #594 and #17.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Phoebe in 11.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #14 in 1985, Phoebe #78 in 2022.
The order changed in 2015: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #133 and #174; by 2015 that had become #172 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Phoebe #97.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phoebe in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Phoebe #17 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Phoebe #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Phoebe in 17.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Phoebe #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #57 and #91; by 2008 that had become #84 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Phoebe #30.
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 | Phoebe |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #65 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Phoebe.
- 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 #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Phoebe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls