Katherine vs Mary
Katherine and Marycompared 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 1981, Katherine was ranked #33 and Mary #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Katherine was ranked #64 and Mary #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Mary #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Mary #134 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Mary #315 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Mary #546 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #594 and Mary #337 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Mary over time
Katherine and Mary appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Mary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katherine in 2.
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.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Katherine 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 1970, Katherine moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #57 and #55 the year before became #48 and #55.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Mary averaged 40.1 places apart, ending at #33 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Mary were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 32 years, from 1955 to 1991, ending at #64 and #89.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mary in 62.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Mary #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Mary #112.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1955–1991
Katherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Mary in 12.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Mary #8 in 1955.
The order changed in 1972: Katherine moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #80 and #62; by 1972 that had become #57 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Katherine #64, Mary #89.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Mary in 12.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Mary #118 in 1997.
The order changed in 2014: Mary moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #230 and #244; by 2014 that had become #265 and #225.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Mary #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1956–1981
Katherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Mary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #27 in 1980, Mary #22 in 1957.
The order changed in 1970: Katherine moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #57 and #55; by 1970 that had become #48 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Katherine #33, Mary #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Mary in 23.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Mary #53 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Mary #134.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Mary in 24.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Mary #133 in 1963.
The order changed in 2001: Katherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #614 and #573; by 2001 that had become #334 and #546.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Mary #546.
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 | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | 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 2 for Mary.
- 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
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 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: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls