Catherine vs Sharon
Catherine and Sharoncompared 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 1981, Catherine was ranked #27 and Sharon #78 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Catherine was ranked #34 and Sharon #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Catherine was ranked #108 and Sharon #366 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Catherine was ranked #165 and Sharon #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Sharon #638 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #483 and Sharon #512 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Sharon #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Sharon over time
Catherine and Sharon appear together in 5 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sharon in 2.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 4 of those lists, and Sharon 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 1971, Catherine moved ahead of Sharon in New Zealand · Girls — #22 and #14 the year before became #23 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Sharon changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1982, ending at #34 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Sharon averaged 12.4 places apart, ending at #34 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Sharon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1952 to 1982, ending at #34 and #88.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Sharon #539 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2020
Catherine held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Sharon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Sharon #5 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Catherine #165, Sharon #834.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1952–1982
Catherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sharon in 20.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Sharon #2 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Catherine #34, Sharon #88.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sharon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Sharon #539 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Sharon #2000.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1954–1981
Catherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sharon in 17.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Sharon #5 in 1964.
The order changed in 1971: Catherine moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #22 and #14; by 1971 that had become #23 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Catherine #27, Sharon #78.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1961–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sharon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Sharon #354 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #483, Sharon #512.
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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From a Hebrew place name — a fertile plain on the central west coast of Israel, also referenced in the biblical 'rose of Sharon' flowering plant. Used as a feminine given name in English since the 1920s. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew (place name origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃæɹ.ən/ | |
| 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) | Scotland · Girls #638 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sharon has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sharon.
- A meaning is recorded for Sharon; 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
Sharon
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1965 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls