Katherine vs Paula
Katherine and Paulacompared 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 1984, Katherine was ranked #32 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Katherine was ranked #38 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Paula #384 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #594 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Katherine and Paula over time
Katherine and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Katherine in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Katherine moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1978 as Paula fell out of it to #58, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Katherine moved ahead of Paula in New Zealand · Girls — #40 and #37 the year before became #36 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Paula changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1963 and 2001, ending at #334 and #384.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Katherine and Paula averaged 29.5 places apart, ending at #32 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Paula were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Paula in 34.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2024: Katherine moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #856 and #727; by 2024 that had become #556 and #736.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Paula #1491.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1963–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Paula in 18.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Paula #289 in 1987.
The order changed in 2001: Katherine moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #614 and #401; by 2001 that had become #334 and #384.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Paula #384.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1955–1984
Katherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paula in 16.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order changed in 1978: Katherine moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #40 and #37; by 1978 that had become #36 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Katherine #32, Paula #93.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Paula #407.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1963–1976
Katherine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #38 in 1976, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Katherine #38, Paula #98.
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 | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (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 Paula.
- 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 #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Paula
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1984
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #521 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls