Catherine vs Sarah
Catherine and Sarahcompared 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 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Sarah #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Sarah #9 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Sarah #70 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Sarah #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Sarah #130 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Sarah #148 among girls in Scotland.
Catherine and Sarah over time
Catherine and Sarah appear together in 6 published lists, across 230 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Catherine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, and Sarah 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 1973, Sarah moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #20 and #36 the year before became #32 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Sarah changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1960 and 2018, ending at #509 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Sarah averaged 42.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Sarah were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 41 years, from 1958 to 2001, ending at #99 and #9.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sarah in 46.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order changed in 1980: Sarah moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #4 and #7; by 1980 that had become #4 and #2.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Sarah #66.
New Zealand · Girls41 shared years, 1958–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sarah in 31.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Sarah #1 in 1974.
The order changed in 1968: Sarah moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #22 and #26; by 1968 that had become #26 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Sarah #9.
Norway · Girls41 shared years, 1960–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sarah in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Sarah #42 in 2002.
The order changed in 1975: Sarah moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #267 and #298; by 1975 that had become #301 and #261.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Sarah #70.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Sarah #130.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1965–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sarah in 21.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #9 in 1968, Sarah #2 in 1981.
The order changed in 1973: Sarah moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #20 and #36; by 1973 that had become #32 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Sarah #3.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Sarah #5 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Sarah #75.
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 | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sarah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sarah.
- A meaning is recorded for Sarah; 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
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls