Catherine vs Tracey
Catherine and Tracey compared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Catherine was ranked #28 and Tracey #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1983, Catherine was ranked #39 and Tracey #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Catherine was ranked #60 and Tracey #98 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Catherine was ranked #126 and Tracey #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Tracey #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Tracey over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Catherine and Tracey over time
Catherine and Tracey appear together in 4 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tracey in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Tracey 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Tracey changed places 8 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1960 and 1991, ending at #60 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Tracey averaged 13.3 places apart, ending at #39 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Tracey were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 32 years, from 1960 to 1991, ending at #60 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Tracey #783 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2009
Catherine held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Tracey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Tracey #61 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Catherine #126, Tracey #893.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1960–1991
Catherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tracey in 19.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #16 in 1963, Tracey #7 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Catherine #60, Tracey #98.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1958–1983
Catherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Tracey in 6.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Tracey #11 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Catherine #39, Tracey #85.
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tracey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Tracey #783 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Tracey #4867.
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.
- Catherine vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #590 and #3705.
Catherine · Rachael · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #590 and #2788.
Catherine · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Kelly
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #74 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #590 and #2006.
Catherine · Kelly · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Aimee
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #70 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #590 and #1809.
Catherine · Aimee · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Tracey
Pairs where Tracey shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tracey vs Jane
Tracey and Jane changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2009, ending at #893 and #106.
Tracey · Jane · 43 shared years, 1964–2009 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Julie vs Tracey
Julie and Tracey changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2009, ending at #161 and #893.
Julie · Tracey · 43 shared years, 1964–2009 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Rachel vs Tracey
In 1970, Rachel moved ahead of Tracey in New Zealand · Girls — #22 and #9 the year before became #4 and #7.
Rachel · Tracey · 27 shared years, 1965–1991 · One moved ahead of the other
- Kylie vs Tracey
In 1970, Kylie moved ahead of Tracey in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #18 and #15 the year before became #6 and #11.
Kylie · Tracey · 19 shared years, 1965–1983 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Catherine | Tracey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Tracey.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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 #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Tracey
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1960–1991
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1960–1991).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls