Katharine vs Layla
Katharine and Laylacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Katharine was ranked #907 and Layla #45 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Katharine was ranked #4709 and Layla #53 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Katharine was ranked #372 and Layla #316 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Katharine and Layla over time
Katharine and Layla appear together in 1 published list, across 26 years of shared records. Layla held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Katharine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Katharine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Layla 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2023
Katharine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Layla in 24.
Highest recorded here: Katharine #258 in 1997, Layla #29 in 2012.
The order changed in 1998: Layla moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #258 and #263; by 1998 that had become #316 and #292.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Katharine #4709, Layla #53.
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 Layla
Pairs where Layla shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matilda vs Layla
Matilda and Layla both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Matilda · Layla · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Layla
Ava and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Layla · 35 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Layla
Charlotte and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlotte · Layla · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Evie vs Layla
Evie and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Evie · Layla · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Katharine | Layla |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'night' in Arabic. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈleɪlə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4709 (2023) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #35 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Layla has a recorded origin (Arabic); Katharine does not have one recorded yet.
- Katharine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Layla.
- A meaning is recorded for Layla; Katharine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Katharine
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #363 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2023
Highest recorded position: #258 among girls in England and Wales, in 1997 (recorded 1996–2023).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4709 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls
Layla
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2020 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls