Catherine vs Vanessa
Catherine and Vanessacompared 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 1995, Catherine was ranked #92 and Vanessa #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Vanessa #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Vanessa #197 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Catherine was ranked #264 and Vanessa #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #594 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Catherine and Vanessa over time
Catherine and Vanessa appear together in 6 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Catherine held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Vanessa in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Vanessa 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 1995, Vanessa moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #64 and #98 the year before became #92 and #86.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Vanessa changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 2000, ending at #90 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Catherine and Vanessa averaged 17.8 places apart, ending at #90 and #93.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Norway · Girls, Vanessa rose about as far as Catherine fell — from #279 and #562 in 1970 to #509 and #197 in 2018.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Vanessa were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1963 to 2000, ending at #90 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Vanessa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1966, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Vanessa #413.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1963–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Vanessa in 14.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #8 in 1963, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Vanessa #93.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1970–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Vanessa in 14.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #251 in 1977, Vanessa #165 in 2002.
The order changed in 1989: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #281 and #311; by 1989 that had become #370 and #265.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Vanessa #197.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Vanessa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #506 and #545; by 2024 that had become #594 and #533.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Vanessa #533.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1967–1995
Catherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Vanessa in 11.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #19 in 1973, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order changed in 1995: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #64 and #98; by 1995 that had become #92 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Catherine #92, Vanessa #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2023
Catherine held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Vanessa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Catherine #264, Vanessa #391.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls