Katherine vs Nancy
Katherine and Nancycompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #594 and Nancy #81 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Nancy #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Nancy #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Nancy #260 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Nancy #604 among girls in Norway.
Katherine and Nancy over time
Katherine and Nancy appear together in 4 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Nancy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Katherine in 1.
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, Nancy 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 2009, Nancy moved ahead of Katherine in England and Wales · Girls — #169 and #184 the year before became #169 and #157.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Nancy changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1963 and 2001, ending at #334 and #604.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Nancy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #608 and #99.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1965–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Nancy in 12.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Nancy #99 in 2025.
The order changed in 2014: Nancy moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #286 and #357; by 2014 that had become #353 and #304.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Nancy #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nancy in 16.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Nancy #64 in 2018.
The order changed in 2009: Nancy moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #169 and #184; by 2009 that had become #169 and #157.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Nancy #81.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1963–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Nancy in 18.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Nancy #207 in 1963.
The order changed in 2001: Katherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #614 and #444; by 2001 that had become #334 and #604.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Nancy #604.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2004–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nancy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #90 in 2004, Nancy #95 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Nancy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #195 and #273; by 2020 that had become #333 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Nancy #127.
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 | Nancy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Nancy.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Nancy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #249 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls