Namewise

Catherine vs Shannon

Catherine and Shannoncompared 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 1993, Catherine was ranked #88 and Shannon #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

Catherine and Shannon over time

Catherine and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shannon in 1.

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 3 of those lists, and Shannon 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 1993, Shannon moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #68 and #86 the year before became #88 and #45.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Shannon averaged 25.7 places apart, ending at #99 and #83.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Catherine and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #2138.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025

    Catherine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1974, Shannon #11 in 1995.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Shannon #885.

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

    Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2011: Catherine moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #290 and #241; by 2011 that had become #233 and #348.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Shannon #2138.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Catherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shannon in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Shannon #2 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2024: Catherine moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #264 and #264; by 2024 that had become #227 and #407.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Shannon #407.

  • New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1976–2001

    Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Shannon in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #23 in 1976, Shannon #31 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1989: Shannon moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #55 and #67; by 1989 that had become #48 and #43.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Shannon #83.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1974–1993

    Catherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Catherine #26 in 1975, Shannon #45 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1993: Shannon moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #68 and #86; by 1993 that had become #88 and #45.

    Most recent shared year, 1993: Catherine #88, Shannon #45.

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 Shannon

Pairs where Shannon 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 — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

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, Shannon
FieldCatherineShannon
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
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, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Shannon.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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

Shannon

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1973

    First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls