Francesca vs Katherine
Francesca 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 2024, Francesca was ranked #102 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Francesca was ranked #152 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Francesca was ranked #227 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Francesca was ranked #443 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Francesca and Katherine over time
Francesca and Katherine appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Francesca 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 2 of those lists, and Francesca 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 2003, Francesca moved ahead of Katherine in England and Wales · Girls — #88 and #85 the year before became #80 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Francesca and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #443 and #608.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Francesca #53 in 1998, Katherine #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1972–2025
Francesca held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Katherine in 40.
Highest recorded here: Francesca #238 in 2001, Katherine #87 in 1985.
The order changed in 2018: Francesca moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #651 and #289; by 2018 that had become #361 and #411.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Francesca #443, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Francesca held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katherine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Francesca #53 in 1998, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Francesca moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #88 and #85; by 2003 that had become #80 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francesca #102, Katherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2024
Francesca held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Katherine in 19.
Highest recorded here: Francesca #155 in 1998, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order changed in 2021: Francesca moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #333 and #333; by 2021 that had become #266 and #350.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francesca #227, 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 | Francesca | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Francesca has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Francesca
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #471 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #53 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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