Julia vs Katherine
Julia 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Julia was ranked #53 and Katherine #334 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Julia was ranked #70 and Katherine #81 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Julia was ranked #81 and Katherine #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #118 and Katherine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #188 and Katherine #476 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #212 and Katherine #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #223 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Julia and Katherine over time
Julia and Katherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Julia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katherine in 2.
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 5 of those lists, Julia 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 2007, Julia moved ahead of Katherine in England and Wales · Girls — #156 and #135 the year before became #92 and #158.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julia and Katherine changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1970 and 2001, ending at #81 and #76.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Julia and Katherine averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #81 and #76.
- Longest-running competitions
Julia and Katherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #118 and #608.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Julia #26 in 1983, Katherine #32 in 1984.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Katherine in 25.
Highest recorded here: Julia #31 in 2009, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #118, Katherine #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Katherine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Julia #77 in 2010, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Julia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #156 and #135; by 2007 that had become #92 and #158.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #223, Katherine #594.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1970–2001
Julia held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Katherine in 25.
Highest recorded here: Julia #26 in 1983, Katherine #32 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Julia #81, Katherine #76.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Katherine in 8.
Highest recorded here: Julia #68 in 2011, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order changed in 2006: Julia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #226 and #169; by 2006 that had become #145 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #212, Katherine #288.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Julia held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julia #53 in 2001, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Julia #53, Katherine #334.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1970–2000
Julia held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Katherine in 16.
Highest recorded here: Julia #70 in 2000, Katherine #24 in 1982.
The order changed in 1997: Julia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #91 and #71; by 1997 that had become #85 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Julia #70, 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 | Julia | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #85 (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 | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Julia has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; 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
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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