Evelyn vs Katherine
Evelyn 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Evelyn was ranked #12 and Katherine #872 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Evelyn was ranked #75 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Evelyn was ranked #94 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Evelyn was ranked #120 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Evelyn was ranked #488 and Katherine #334 among girls in Norway.
Evelyn and Katherine over time
Evelyn and Katherine appear together in 4 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 3 of those lists, Evelyn 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Evelyn moved ahead of Katherine in England and Wales · Girls — #139 and #122 the year before became #125 and #135.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Evelyn and Katherine changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #94 and #608.
- Longest-running competitions
Evelyn and Katherine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #12 and #872.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #83 and #77 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #94 and #608.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Evelyn held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Katherine in 34.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #76 in 2022, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order changed in 2008: Evelyn moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #267 and #222; by 2008 that had become #212 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Evelyn #94, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Evelyn held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Katherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #12 in 2025, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Evelyn moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #139 and #122; by 2006 that had become #125 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Evelyn #12, Katherine #872.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Evelyn held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Katherine in 2.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #127 in 1963, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order changed in 2001: Katherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #464 and #614; by 2001 that had become #488 and #334.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Evelyn #488, Katherine #334.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2024
Evelyn held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Katherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Evelyn #75 in 2024, Katherine #57 in 1997.
The order changed in 2015: Evelyn moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #156 and #156; by 2015 that had become #144 and #209.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Evelyn #75, Katherine #288.
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 | Evelyn | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From an English surname derived from the given name Aveline. Originally more common for boys in the 17th century, now used almost entirely as a feminine name. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | England and Wales · Girls #12 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Evelyn has a recorded origin (English (surname origin)); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Evelyn has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Evelyn; 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
Evelyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #121 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2011–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2011–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #12 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