Catherine vs Tara
Catherine and Taracompared 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 1991, Catherine was ranked #60 and Tara #87 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Tara #69 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Tara #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Catherine was ranked #264 and Tara #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Tara #251 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Tara #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Tara #547 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Tara over time
Catherine and Tara appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 Tara 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, Tara moved into the top 50 at #39 in 1998 as Catherine fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Tara moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #39 and #61 the year before became #38 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Tara changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2023, ending at #264 and #178.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Catherine and Tara averaged 42.9 places apart, ending at #264 and #178.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Tara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #273 and #166.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Tara in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Tara #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1998: Tara moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #34 and #37; by 1998 that had become #51 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Tara #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tara in 1.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Tara #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Tara moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #506 and #637; by 2024 that had become #594 and #547.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Tara #547.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Catherine held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tara in 3.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Tara #45 in 2000.
The order changed in 2023: Tara moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #152 and #266; by 2023 that had become #264 and #178.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Catherine #264, Tara #178.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1973–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #251 in 1977, Tara #237 in 1997.
The order changed in 1995: Tara moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #402 and #602; by 1995 that had become #353 and #286.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Tara #251.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1983–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Tara in 10.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #38 in 1984, Tara #20 in 1985.
The order changed in 1984: Tara moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #39 and #61; by 1984 that had become #38 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Tara #69.
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 | Tara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| 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 #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Tara.
- 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
Tara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1983–2007
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2007).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #300 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls