Namewise

Heidi vs Kathleen

Heidi and Kathleencompared 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, Heidi was ranked #65 and Kathleen #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1977, Heidi was ranked #72 and Kathleen #89 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1982, Heidi was ranked #93 and Kathleen #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Heidi was ranked #91 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Heidi was ranked #130 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.

Heidi and Kathleen over time

Heidi and Kathleen appear together in 4 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Heidi held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kathleen in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Heidi 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 2006, Heidi moved ahead of Kathleen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #278 and #193 the year before became #184 and #238.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Heidi and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #130 and #997.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Heidi #64 in 1973, Kathleen #67 in 1972.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1968–2025

    Heidi held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kathleen in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Heidi #74 in 2019, Kathleen #25 in 1968.

    The order changed in 2009: Heidi moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #170 and #164; by 2009 that had become #124 and #204.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Heidi #91, Kathleen #352.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Heidi held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kathleen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Heidi #76 in 2016, Kathleen #227 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Heidi #130, Kathleen #997.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024

    Heidi held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kathleen in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Heidi #57 in 2015, Kathleen #112 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2006: Heidi moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #278 and #193; by 2006 that had become #184 and #238.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Heidi #65, Kathleen #407.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1971–1982

    Heidi held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kathleen in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Heidi #64 in 1973, Kathleen #67 in 1972.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1982: Heidi #93, Kathleen #87.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Heidi

Pairs where Heidi shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Kathleen

Pairs where Kathleen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.

All close in one country, far apart in another→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Heidi, Kathleen
FieldHeidiKathleen
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA German diminutive of Adelheid. Gained wide recognition through Johanna Spyri's 1880 children's novel Heidi, and its 1937 film adaptation starring Shirley Temple.Not yet recorded
OriginGermanic, diminutive of AdelheidNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈhaɪ̯.di/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #91 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Heidi has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Heidi and Kathleen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Heidi; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Heidi

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #188 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #130 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Kathleen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #29 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls