Deborah vs Kathleen
Deborah and Kathleencompared 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 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Kathleen #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Deborah was ranked #97 and Kathleen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Deborah was ranked #451 and Kathleen #203 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #608 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #580 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Kathleen over time
Deborah and Kathleen appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kathleen in 2.
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.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Deborah 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
Deborah and Kathleen changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #580 and #997.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Kathleen averaged 27.4 places apart, ending at #86 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #580 and #997.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #116 and #112 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2012 they were #451 and #203.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kathleen in 45.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Kathleen #18 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #608, Kathleen #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kathleen in 10.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Deborah moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #857 and #796; by 2023 that had become #657 and #962.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #580, Kathleen #997.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1952–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kathleen in 2.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Kathleen #29 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Kathleen #90.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1954–1984
Deborah held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kathleen in 1.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Kathleen #31 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Deborah #97, Kathleen #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2012
Deborah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Kathleen #112 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Deborah #451, Kathleen #203.
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 | Deborah | Kathleen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kathleen.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 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 recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #580 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kathleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls