Katherine vs Kim
Katherine and Kimcompared 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 1984, Katherine was ranked #28 and Kim #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Katherine was ranked #37 and Kim #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Katherine was ranked #203 and Kim #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Kim #455 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #556 and Kim #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #594 and Kim #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Kim over time
Katherine and Kim appear together in 5 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Kim held the stronger position in more years in 3 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.
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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Katherine moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1982 as Kim fell out of it to #63, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Katherine moved ahead of Kim in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #28 the year before became #27 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Kim changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1963 and 2001, ending at #334 and #455.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Kim averaged 42.0 places apart, ending at #28 and #80.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Katherine rose about as far as Kim fell — from #97 and #40 in 1961 to #37 and #78 in 1985.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Kim were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #556 and #736.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Kim in 17.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Kim #64 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #556, Kim #736.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Kim #4192.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1956–1984
Katherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kim in 24.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Kim #6 in 1959.
The order changed in 1980: Katherine moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #32 and #28; by 1980 that had become #27 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Katherine #28, Kim #80.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1961–1985
Katherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kim in 20.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Kim #5 in 1968.
The order changed in 1982: Katherine moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #36 and #35; by 1982 that had become #34 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Katherine #37, Kim #78.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Kim in 21.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Kim #238 in 1984.
The order changed in 2001: Katherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #614 and #439; by 2001 that had become #334 and #455.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Kim #455.
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 | Katherine | Kim |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 4 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Kim.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls