Ella vs Katherine
Ella and Katherinecompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Ella was ranked #12 and Katherine #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Ella was ranked #29 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Ella was ranked #155 and Katherine #334 among girls in Norway.
Ella and Katherine over time
Ella and Katherine appear together in 4 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katherine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ella 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Ella moved into the top 50 at #44 in 1997 as Katherine fell out of it to #53, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Ella moved ahead of Katherine in England and Wales · Girls — #56 and #48 the year before became #44 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ella and Katherine changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1963 and 2001, ending at #155 and #334.
- Longest-running competitions
Ella and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #17 and #608.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #594.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Katherine in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Katherine #87 in 1985.
The order changed in 1998: Ella moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #176 and #148; by 1998 that had become #94 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Katherine in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Ella moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #56 and #48; by 1997 that had become #44 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #39, Katherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Katherine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order changed in 2000: Ella moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #119 and #86; by 2000 that had become #86 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Katherine #288.
Norway · Girls20 shared years, 1963–2001
Ella held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Katherine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ella #155 in 2001, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Ella #155, Katherine #334.
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 | Ella | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Ella has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Katherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls