Emma vs Katrina
Emma and Katrinacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Emma was ranked #2 and Katrina #526 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Emma was ranked #4 and Katrina #81 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1992, Emma was ranked #6 and Katrina #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Emma was ranked #16 and Katrina #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #17 and Katrina #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Katrina #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Katrina over time
Emma and Katrina appear together in 6 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Katrina 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.
Katrina reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Emma in 1. 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 New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emma moved into the top 50 at #22 in 1975 as Katrina fell out of it to #52, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1975, Emma moved ahead of Katrina in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #38 the year before became #22 and #52.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emma and Katrina averaged 34.9 places apart, ending at #6 and #89.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Emma rose about as far as Katrina fell — from #90 and #42 in 1969 to #6 and #89 in 1992.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Katrina were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 52 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #17 and #898.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Katrina #177 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1964–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Katrina in 1.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2004, Katrina #172 in 1978.
The order changed in 1965: Emma moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #245 and #226; by 1965 that had become #198 and #325.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #17, Katrina #898.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Katrina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Katrina #177 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Katrina #4192.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1978–2016
Emma held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katrina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2004, Katrina #405 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Emma #2, Katrina #526.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1969–1992
Emma held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Katrina in 6.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1988, Katrina #23 in 1981.
The order changed in 1975: Emma moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #42 and #38; by 1975 that had become #22 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Emma #6, Katrina #89.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1969–1990
Emma held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Katrina in 7.
Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1988, Katrina #16 in 1975.
The order changed in 1976: Emma moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #22 and #16; by 1976 that had become #18 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Emma #4, Katrina #81.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2011
Emma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Katrina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Katrina #164 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Emma #16, Katrina #444.
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 | Emma | Katrina |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Katrina does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Katrina.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; Katrina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Emma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Katrina
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1965–1990
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1965–1990).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls