Cathryn vs Meabh
Cathryn and Meabhcompared 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 1999, Cathryn was ranked #344 and Meabh #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1989, Cathryn was ranked #445 and Meabh #332 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2017, Cathryn was ranked #5765 and Meabh #4063 among girls in England and Wales.
Cathryn and Meabh over time
Cathryn and Meabh appear together in 1 published list, across 11 years of shared records. Cathryn held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Meabh 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.
Cathryn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Meabh 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls11 shared years, 1999–2017
Cathryn held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Meabh in 5.
Highest recorded here: Cathryn #1473 in 1999, Meabh #2314 in 2014.
The order changed in 2013: Meabh moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #4838 and #5876; by 2013 that had become #5742 and #2887.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Cathryn #5765, Meabh #4063.
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 Meabh
Pairs where Meabh shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Meabh vs Taylor
Meabh and Taylor changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1993 and 2025, ending at #413 and #443.
Meabh · Taylor · 33 shared years, 1993–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Meabh vs Lara
Meabh and Lara changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #413 and #102.
Meabh · Lara · 48 shared years, 1976–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Annie vs Meabh
Annie and Meabh changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #33 and #413.
Annie · Meabh · 48 shared years, 1976–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Isla vs Meabh
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Meabh #17 in 2024.
Isla · Meabh · 21 shared years, 2004–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Cathryn | Meabh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The modern Irish form of the older name Medb (Anglicised 'Maeve'), traditionally associated with the mythological warrior-queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmʲeːw/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5765 (2017) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Meabh has a recorded origin (Irish); Cathryn does not have one recorded yet.
- Cathryn has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Meabh.
- A meaning is recorded for Meabh; Cathryn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Cathryn
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1998–1999
Highest recorded position: #344 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1998–1999).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #5765 among girls in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Girls
Meabh
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls