Catherine vs Saoirse
Catherine and Saoirsecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Saoirse #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Saoirse #37 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Saoirse #196 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Saoirse #402 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Saoirse over time
Catherine and Saoirse appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Saoirse in 1.
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 Saoirse 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1998 as Catherine fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2014, Saoirse moved ahead of Catherine in Northern Ireland · Girls — #83 and #86 the year before became #116 and #106.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Saoirse changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #37.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Saoirse were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #402.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1971–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Saoirse in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1971, Saoirse #12 in 2016.
The order changed in 1998: Saoirse moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #34 and #44; by 1998 that had become #51 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Saoirse #17.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Saoirse in 8.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Saoirse #307 in 2020.
The order changed in 2018: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #313 and #396; by 2018 that had become #419 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Saoirse #402.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Saoirse in 13.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Saoirse #37 in 2023.
The order changed in 2014: Saoirse moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #83 and #86; by 2014 that had become #116 and #106.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Saoirse #37.
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 | Saoirse |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'freedom' in Irish; first adopted as a given name in the 20th century, reportedly with nationalist/political resonance given the meaning. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsˠiːɾˠʃə/ | |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #17 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Saoirse has a recorded origin (Irish); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Saoirse.
- A meaning is recorded for Saoirse; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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 #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Saoirse
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls