Katherine vs Sally
Katherine and Sallycompared 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 1979, Katherine was ranked #41 and Sally #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1993, Katherine was ranked #61 and Sally #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Sally #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Sally #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #594 and Sally #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Sally over time
Katherine and Sally appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Katherine held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Sally in 0.
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.
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 1977, Katherine moved ahead of Sally in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #38 and #37 the year before became #32 and #36.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Sally changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1956 and 1993, ending at #61 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Sally averaged 18.3 places apart, ending at #61 and #99.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Katherine rose about as far as Sally fell — from #100 and #66 in 1955 to #41 and #99 in 1979.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Sally were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 36 years, from 1956 to 1993, ending at #61 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Sally #144 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Sally in 13.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #71 in 1965, Sally #153 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Sally moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #289 and #301; by 2018 that had become #411 and #336.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Sally #239.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls36 shared years, 1956–1993
Katherine held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sally in 8.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Sally #36 in 1977.
The order changed in 1977: Katherine moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #38 and #37; by 1977 that had become #32 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Katherine #61, Sally #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Sally #144 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #594, Sally #1743.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1955–1979
Katherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sally in 9.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #36 in 1978, Sally #57 in 1965.
The order changed in 1972: Katherine moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #80 and #78; by 1972 that had become #57 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Katherine #41, Sally #99.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1999–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #86 in 1999, Sally #230 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Sally #337.
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 | Sally |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (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 Sally.
- 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
Sally
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls