Erin vs Katherine
Erin 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Erin was ranked #25 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Erin was ranked #58 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Erin was ranked #71 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Erin was ranked #72 and Katherine #872 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Erin was ranked #72 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1995, Erin was ranked #95 and Katherine #79 among girls in New Zealand.
Erin and Katherine over time
Erin and Katherine appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Erin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katherine in 1.
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 Erin 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Erin moved ahead of Katherine in England and Wales · Girls — #68 and #60 the year before became #52 and #71.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Erin and Katherine changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1975 and 1995, ending at #95 and #79.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Erin and Katherine averaged 19.7 places apart, ending at #58 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Erin and Katherine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #72 and #872.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Erin #11 in 1984, Katherine #24 in 1982.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1975–2025
Erin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Katherine in 20.
Highest recorded here: Erin #34 in 2006, Katherine #87 in 1985.
The order changed in 1997: Erin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #137 and #119; by 1997 that had become #117 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #71, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Erin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katherine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Erin #27 in 2007, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Erin moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #68 and #60; by 2000 that had become #52 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #72, Katherine #872.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Erin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Erin #5 in 2009, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Erin #25, Katherine #288.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1977–2000
Erin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Katherine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Erin #11 in 1984, Katherine #24 in 1982.
The order changed in 1981: Erin moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #43 and #27; by 1981 that had become #18 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Erin #58, Katherine #81.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1975–1995
Erin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Katherine in 18.
Highest recorded here: Erin #36 in 1984, Katherine #32 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Erin #95, Katherine #79.
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 | Erin | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland itself. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛɹ.ɪn/ | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #71 (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
- Erin has a recorded origin (Irish); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Erin has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Erin; Katherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Erin
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #89 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #72 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls