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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
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 90 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #273 and #36.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ruby in 25.
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, 2024: Catherine #594, Ruby #41.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Catherine | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') |
| Pronunciation | /ˈruːbi/ | |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Ruby
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls