Katherine vs Olive
Katherine and Olivecompared 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 Olive #53 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Olive #106 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Olive #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Olive #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Katherine and Olive over time
Katherine and Olive appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Olive 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.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Olive in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Olive changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #608 and #247.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Olive were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 58 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #247.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #77 and #72 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #247.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Olive in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Olive #34 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Olive #247.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Olive in 11.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Olive #53 in 2024.
The order changed in 2014: Olive moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #230 and #233; by 2014 that had become #265 and #210.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Olive #53.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2013–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Olive in 4.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #156 in 2014, Olive #119 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Olive moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #333 and #397; by 2021 that had become #350 and #190.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Olive #119.
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 | Olive |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #68 (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 3 for Olive.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Olive
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #72 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #21 among girls in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls