Katherine vs Melanie
Katherine and Melaniecompared 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 1996, Katherine was ranked #69 and Melanie #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Katherine was ranked #88 and Melanie #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Katherine was ranked #195 and Melanie #361 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1997, Katherine was ranked #614 and Melanie #522 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Melanie #863 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Melanie over time
Katherine and Melanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Melanie in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Melanie moved ahead of Katherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #71 and #78 the year before became #88 and #82.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Melanie changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1970 and 1997, ending at #88 and #82.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Melanie averaged 12.9 places apart, ending at #88 and #82.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Melanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #863.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Melanie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Melanie #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Melanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Melanie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #594 and #934; by 2025 that had become #872 and #863.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Melanie #863.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1966–1996
Katherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Melanie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Melanie #8 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Katherine #69, Melanie #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1970–1997
Katherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Melanie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1997: Melanie moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #71 and #78; by 1997 that had become #88 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Katherine #88, Melanie #82.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1972–1997
Katherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melanie in 16.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Melanie #281 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Katherine #614, Melanie #522.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2018
Katherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Melanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Katherine #195, Melanie #361.
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 | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Melanie.
- 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 #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Melanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–1996
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1966–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #863 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls