Katherine vs Laura
Katherine and Lauracompared 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 2000, Katherine was ranked #81 and Laura #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #76 and Laura #37 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Laura #153 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Laura #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #594 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Laura #351 among girls in Scotland.
Katherine and Laura over time
Katherine and Laura appear together in 6 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Katherine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 3 of those lists, Laura in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Laura moved into the top 50 at #24 in 1983 as Katherine fell out of it to #51, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Laura moved ahead of Katherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #24 and #36 the year before became #30 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Laura averaged 35.3 places apart, ending at #81 and #22.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura rose about as far as Katherine fell — from #38 and #83 in 1976 to #81 and #22 in 2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Laura were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #112.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Laura in 58.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order changed in 1968: Laura moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #83 and #88; by 1968 that had become #104 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Laura #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Laura #258.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 26.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Laura #253.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Laura in 24.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Laura #132 in 1980.
The order changed in 1972: Laura moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #508 and #512; by 1972 that had become #606 and #351.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Laura #153.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1976–2000
Katherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Laura in 17.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Laura #9 in 1994.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #24 and #36; by 1983 that had become #30 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Katherine #81, Laura #22.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1978–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Laura in 17.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #34 and #57; by 1983 that had become #51 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #76, Laura #37.
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 | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (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
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Laura.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; 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
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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls