Katherine vs Louise
Katherine and Louisecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Katherine was ranked #69 and Louise #100 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Katherine was ranked #88 and Louise #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Louise #166 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Katherine was ranked #355 and Louise #296 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Louise #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Louise #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Louise over time
Katherine and Louise appear together in 6 published lists, across 212 years of shared records. Louise held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Katherine in 1.
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.
Louise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Katherine 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, Katherine moved into the top 50 at #32 in 1984 as Louise fell out of it to #52, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Katherine moved ahead of Louise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #45 and #35 the year before became #38 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Louise changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #872 and #816.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Louise averaged 26.6 places apart, ending at #88 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Louise were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Louise in 60.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Louise #5 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Louise #213.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1956–1995
Katherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Louise in 20.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Louise #23 in 1967.
The order changed in 1976: Katherine moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #45 and #35; by 1976 that had become #38 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Katherine #88, Louise #100.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1955–1994
Katherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Louise in 23.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Louise #27 in 1980.
The order changed in 1984: Katherine moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #51 and #34; by 1984 that had become #32 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Katherine #69, Louise #100.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Louise in 10.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Louise #816.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Louise in 24.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Louise #160 in 1995.
The order changed in 1972: Louise moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #508 and #514; by 1972 that had become #606 and #353.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Louise #166.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Katherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Louise in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Louise #33 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Katherine #355, Louise #296.
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 | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /lu.ˈiz/ |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Louise.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; 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 #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls