Heather vs Katherine
Heather 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Heather was ranked #97 and Katherine #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1983, Heather was ranked #94 and Katherine #51 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Heather was ranked #351 and Katherine #139 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Heather was ranked #325 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Heather was ranked #351 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Heather was ranked #826 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Heather and Katherine over time
Heather and Katherine appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Heather 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1963, Katherine moved ahead of Heather in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #66 and #69 the year before became #70 and #66.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Heather and Katherine changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #325 and #608.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Heather and Katherine averaged 40.1 places apart, ending at #94 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Heather and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #325 and #608.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Heather #78 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Heather held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Katherine in 33.
Highest recorded here: Heather #83 in 2003, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order changed in 2025: Heather moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #898 and #556; by 2025 that had become #325 and #608.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heather #325, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Heather held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 29.
Highest recorded here: Heather #78 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Heather #826, Katherine #594.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1955–1983
Heather held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Katherine in 10.
Highest recorded here: Heather #15 in 1955, Katherine #36 in 1978.
The order changed in 1972: Katherine moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #69 and #80; by 1972 that had become #77 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Heather #94, Katherine #51.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1956–1986
Heather held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Katherine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Heather #49 in 1956, Katherine #28 in 1984.
The order changed in 1963: Katherine moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #66 and #69; by 1963 that had become #70 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Heather #97, Katherine #29.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007
Heather held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Heather #166 in 2003, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Heather #351, Katherine #139.
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 | Heather | 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 | 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 #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Heather has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Heather
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 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