Cathy vs Diane
Cathy and Dianecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Cathy was ranked #92 and Diane #49 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Cathy was ranked #314 and Diane #241 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Cathy was ranked #661 and Diane #752 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Cathy was ranked #5785 and Diane #3609 among girls in England and Wales.
Cathy and Diane over time
Cathy and Diane appear together in 2 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Diane held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cathy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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
Cathy and Diane changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2014, ending at #661 and #752.
- Longest-running competitions
Cathy and Diane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1964 to 2014, ending at #661 and #752.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Cathy #1755 in 1996, Diane #983 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1964–2014
Cathy held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Diane in 26.
Highest recorded here: Cathy #168 in 1986, Diane #126 in 1983.
The order changed in 2004: Cathy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #443 and #406; by 2004 that had become #340 and #576.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Cathy #661, Diane #752.
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 1996–2016
Cathy held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Diane in 12.
Highest recorded here: Cathy #1755 in 1996, Diane #983 in 1997.
The order changed in 1997: Diane moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #1755 and #1914; by 1997 that had become #3174 and #983.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Cathy #5785, Diane #3609.
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 | Cathy | Diane |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #873 (2017) | England and Wales · Girls #2411 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cathy and Diane both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Cathy
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1960–1965
Highest recorded position: #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1965 (recorded 1960–1965).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #873 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2017.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Diane
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls