Cathrine vs Sarah
Cathrine and Sarahcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1979, Cathrine was ranked #523 and Sarah #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2010, Cathrine was ranked #3533 and Sarah #83 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Cathrine was ranked #478 and Sarah #97 among girls in Norway.
Cathrine and Sarah over time
Cathrine and Sarah appear together in 1 published list, across 55 years of shared records. Cathrine held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Sarah in 0.
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.
Cathrine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Sarah 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 1996, Sarah moved ahead of Cathrine in Norway · Girls — #60 and #101 the year before became #96 and #93.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sarah rose about as far as Cathrine fell — from #235 and #490 in 1960 to #478 and #97 in 2020.
- Longest-running competitions
Cathrine and Sarah were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1960 to 2020, ending at #478 and #97.
List by list
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1960–2020
Cathrine held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Sarah in 20.
Highest recorded here: Cathrine #21 in 1978, Sarah #35 in 2007.
The order changed in 1996: Sarah moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #60 and #101; by 1996 that had become #96 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Cathrine #478, Sarah #97.
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 | Cathrine | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #478 (2020) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sarah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Cathrine does not have one recorded yet.
- Cathrine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sarah.
- A meaning is recorded for Sarah; Cathrine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Cathrine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #360 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1951–2020
Highest recorded position: #21 among girls in Norway, in 1978 (recorded 1951–2020).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2020
Most recently recorded at #478 among girls in Norway, in 2020.
Norway · Girls
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls