Katherine vs Melissa
Katherine and Melissacompared 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 2001, Katherine was ranked #76 and Melissa #80 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Katherine was ranked #81 and Melissa #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Melissa #197 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Katherine was ranked #266 and Melissa #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Katherine and Melissa over time
Katherine and Melissa appear together in 6 published lists, across 210 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Katherine in 0.
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 2004, Melissa moved ahead of Katherine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #150 and #189 the year before became #140 and #130.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Melissa changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #872 and #321.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Melissa averaged 29.1 places apart, ending at #81 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #46 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #872 and #321.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Melissa in 44.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 2004: Melissa moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #150 and #189; by 2004 that had become #140 and #130.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Melissa #173.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1962–2000
Katherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Melissa in 36.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Melissa #2 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Katherine #81, Melissa #92.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1967–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #76, Melissa #80.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Melissa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Melissa #321.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2022
Katherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melissa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Katherine #266, Melissa #266.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1974–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melissa in 17.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Melissa #166 in 1997.
The order changed in 1984: Melissa moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #323 and #398; by 1984 that had become #439 and #291.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Melissa #197.
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 | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'bee' in Greek. Borne in mythology by a daughter of Procles and used as an epithet for various nymphs and priestesses; appears in Ludovico Ariosto's 1532 poem Orlando Furioso. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; 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
Melissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1962–2000
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1962–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #321 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls