Namewise

Catherine vs Ruby

Catherine and Rubycompared 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 Ruby #26 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Ruby #38 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Ruby #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

Catherine and Ruby over time

Catherine and Ruby appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Catherine in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Ruby 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 took the other's place near the top

    In Northern Ireland · Girls, Ruby moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2007 as Catherine fell out of it to #57, having been #41 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2000, Ruby moved ahead of Catherine in England and Wales · Girls — #85 and #93 the year before became #96 and #78.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Catherine and Ruby were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #38.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1991–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ruby in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1991, Ruby #16 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2005: Ruby moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #64 and #110; by 2005 that had become #83 and #58.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Ruby #36.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ruby in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Ruby #1 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2000: Ruby moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #85 and #93; by 2000 that had become #96 and #78.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Ruby #38.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024

    Catherine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ruby in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #28 in 1998, Ruby #18 in 2011.

    The order changed in 2007: Ruby moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #41 and #45; by 2007 that had become #57 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Ruby #38.

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 Ruby

Pairs where Ruby 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 — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Catherine, Ruby
FieldCatherineRuby
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTaken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')
Pronunciation/ˈruːbi/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ruby has a recorded origin (English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Ruby.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ruby; 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

  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

Ruby

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1991

    First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #38 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls