Grace vs Katherine
Grace 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, Grace was ranked #1 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Grace was ranked #4 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Grace was ranked #5 and Katherine #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Grace was ranked #12 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #13 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 1997, Grace was ranked #502 and Katherine #614 among girls in Norway.
Grace and Katherine over time
Grace and Katherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Katherine in 0.
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 5 of those lists, Grace 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 Zealand · Girls, Grace moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1991 as Katherine fell out of it to #64, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Grace moved ahead of Katherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #46 and #38 the year before became #41 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grace and Katherine changed places 8 times in Norway · Girls between 1963 and 1997, ending at #502 and #614.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #4 and #608.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #25 and #594.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Grace held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Katherine in 13.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2020, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order changed in 1981: Grace moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #117 and #113; by 1981 that had become #94 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Grace #4, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Katherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2013, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Grace moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #57 and #57; by 1998 that had become #49 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #1, Katherine #288.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1963–1997
Grace held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Katherine in 9.
Highest recorded here: Grace #370 in 1977, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Grace #502, Katherine #614.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1987–2001
Grace held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Katherine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Grace #5 in 2001, Katherine #40 in 1989.
The order changed in 1991: Grace moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #66 and #45; by 1991 that had become #43 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Grace #5, Katherine #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1988–2000
Grace held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Katherine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Grace #12 in 2000, Katherine #27 in 1988.
The order changed in 1992: Grace moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #46 and #38; by 1992 that had become #41 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Grace #12, Katherine #81.
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 | Grace | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (virtue name), from Latin gratia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹeɪs/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Gracie | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Grace has a recorded origin (English (virtue name), from Latin gratia); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Katherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Katherine a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Grace
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #393 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · 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