Katherine vs Rachael
Katherine and Rachaelcompared 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 1994, Katherine was ranked #69 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Katherine was ranked #81 and Rachael #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Katherine was ranked #355 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Katherine was ranked #747 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Rachael over time
Katherine and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rachael in 2.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Katherine 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Rachael changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1970 and 2000, ending at #81 and #94.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Rachael averaged 20.7 places apart, ending at #81 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #3705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Katherine held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Rachael in 23.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Katherine #747, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Rachael #3705.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1970–2000
Katherine held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rachael in 7.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Rachael #41 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Katherine #81, Rachael #94.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1969–1994
Katherine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rachael in 15.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Rachael #25 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Katherine #69, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Katherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rachael in 12.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order changed in 2017: Katherine moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #353 and #353; by 2017 that had become #355 and #432.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Katherine #355, Rachael #432.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (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 2 for Rachael.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 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 recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls