Cathy vs Teresa
Cathy and Teresacompared 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 Teresa #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2000, Cathy was ranked #248 and Teresa #220 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Cathy was ranked #873 and Teresa #430 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Cathy was ranked #5785 and Teresa #1086 among girls in England and Wales.
Cathy and Teresa over time
Cathy and Teresa appear together in 2 published lists, across 63 years of shared records. Teresa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cathy in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Teresa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Cathy 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
Cathy and Teresa changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2017, ending at #873 and #430.
- Longest-running competitions
Cathy and Teresa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2017, ending at #873 and #430.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Cathy #1755 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2017
Cathy held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Teresa in 44.
Highest recorded here: Cathy #168 in 1986, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Cathy #873, Teresa #430.
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 1996–2016
Cathy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Teresa in 13.
Highest recorded here: Cathy #1755 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Cathy #5785, Teresa #1086.
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 Teresa
Pairs where Teresa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ellen vs Teresa
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #166 and #885.
Ellen · Teresa · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Pauline vs Teresa
In 1964 they stood at #12 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #280.
Pauline · Teresa · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Kathleen vs Teresa
In 1964 they stood at #23 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #352 and #885.
Kathleen · Teresa · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Helen vs Teresa
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #885.
Helen · Teresa · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Cathy | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #873 (2017) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cathy has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Teresa.
- 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
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls